STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1518

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 550

H.D. 2

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 550, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to facilitate the enforcement of fireworks laws.

Specifically, this measure allows the use of a recording that is made by a law enforcement agency through the use, control, or operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle to establish probable cause for an arrest under the Fireworks Control Law if:

(1) The unmanned aerial vehicle recorded directly above public property; and

(2) The act leading to the arrest was committed on public property.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaiian Humane Society, and six individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that it is often difficult to establish probable cause for arrests under fireworks laws, especially when the illegal fireworks activities occur in areas that are not easily accessible to traditional law enforcement patrol methods. Your Committee further finds that unmanned aerial vehicles provide a technological solution that allows officers to safely and effectively monitor public areas for illegal fireworks activity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 550, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair