STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1328

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 227

S.D. 1

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. 227, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREWORKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division within the Department of Law Enforcement.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; Hawaiian Humane Society; Oʻahu County Committee of Oʻahu County Democrats; and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that the continued illegal use and distribution of fireworks poses significant safety, environmental, and enforcement challenges across the State. Despite prior legislative efforts, unauthorized fireworks remain prevalent, necessitating a dedicated enforcement approach. This measure establishes an Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division within the Department of Law Enforcement to enhance regulatory oversight, improve interagency coordination, and strengthen enforcement efforts, ensuring greater public safety and compliance with state laws.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division has charge, direction, and control of all matters relating to the enforcement of illegal fireworks by the Department of Law Enforcement and that the Department and counties, or both, are authorized to enforce and administer the provisions of the Fireworks Control Law; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of:

(1) $4,647,155 to carry out the purposes of this measure, including the operation of the Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division and reimbursement of funds to law enforcement agencies for division-related law enforcement operations; and

(2) $1,916,210 for the establishment of six permanent positions within the Illegal Fireworks Enforcement Division.

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. 227, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 227, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair