STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1131

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 126

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 126, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY FORFEITURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make the State's property forfeiture process more just by:

(1) Increasing transparency and accountability surrounding property forfeiture;

(2) Clarifying which property is subject to forfeiture;

(3) Amending the authorized disposition of forfeited property and the proceeds thereof; and

(4) Repealing the provision that requires the Hawaii Omnibus Criminal Forfeiture Act to be construed liberally.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; Community Alliance on Prisons; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Honolulu Police Department. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 126, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair