STAND. COM. REP. NO. 467

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1248

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1248 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CRANSTON DUKE PIA ACT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish that, in certain circumstances, an individual rightfully on agricultural land has the right to stand their ground and exercise deadly force in self-defense.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Kapāpala Ranch; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and eleven individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement.

Your Committee finds that agricultural crime is a growing concern across the State, with local farmers and ranchers frequently facing trespassing, theft, vandalism, and violence. Your Committee recognizes stand your ground laws, which eliminate the duty to retreat before using force in self-defense in certain spaces, have been enacted in twenty-six states, and believes that residents should be allowed to defend themselves and their livelihoods. This measure safeguards individuals in the agricultural community and their property by amending the State's self-defense laws to deprioritize the duty to retreat in certain circumstances, thereby allowing individuals with a legal right to stand their ground on agricultural land and exercise deadly force in justifiable contexts.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1248 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair