STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1750

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 401

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 401, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to include any firearm with the capacity to fire ammunition of fifty caliber or higher, excluding certain firearms, in the list of prohibited weapons.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; Giffords; Everytown for Gun Safety; Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Hawaiʻi Chapter; Students Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Hawaiʻi Chapter; Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Mid Pacific Pistol League; Aloha Freedom Coalition; Hawaii Patriot Republicans; Safari Club International, Hawaii Chapter; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Honolulu Police Department and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will strengthen Hawaii's firearms laws and enhance public safety in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Beginning July 8, 2025, prohibiting:

(A) Persons from bringing or causing to be brought into the State assault rifles, assault shotguns, or .50 caliber firearms; and

(B) The sale or transfer of assault rifles, assault shotguns, or .50 caliber firearms in the State to anyone other than authorized individuals;

(2) Amending the prohibition on certain weapons to add assault rifles and assault shotguns, in addition firearms with the capacity to fire ammunition of fifty caliber or higher;

(3) Expanding the ban on high-capacity detachable magazines to include those magazines designed for or capable of use with any firearm;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 401, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 401, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair