STAND. COM. REP. NO. 555

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 308

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 308 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to expand the ban on pistols with a detachable magazine with over a ten-round capacity to any firearm with a detachable magazine with over a ten-round capacity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaiʻi Friends of Civil Rights, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, Brady Hawaii, Hawaii Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Hawaii Chapter of Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Everytown for Gun Safety, Church of the Crossroads, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, SDM Training Group, Bows N Bullets, Hawaii Rifle Association, Puʻuloa Rifle and Pistol Club, Young Guns, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaiʻi.

Your Committee finds that gun violence is a growing and unacceptable problem in the State. This measure will deter the possession and use of certain types of unreasonably dangerous firearms within the State that lack an essential public use justifying their continued permission under state law.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing legislative findings;

(2) Removing language that would have exempted certain individuals from the ban on firearms with detachable ammunition magazines with a capacity in excess of ten rounds;

(3) Changing the effective date to January 1, 2026; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 308, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 308, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,

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BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair