STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3191

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1550

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1550, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to exclude drug testing products from the definition of drug paraphernalia under the Uniform Controlled Substances Act.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, State Health Planning and Development Agency, ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiʻi, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that testing illicit drugs to determine whether a controlled substance contains chemicals, toxic substances, or hazardous compounds in quantities that can cause physical harm or death has been shown to reduce overdose and drug-related harm. Your Committee further finds that drug checking methods range from tools such as fentanyl test strips, which may be used in any setting where drugs are used, to more advanced technologies, including infrared spectrometry, which are typically conducted at on-site facilities such as syringe service programs. Your Committee believes that providing individuals, service providers, and communities with accurate information regarding the presence and concentration of substances in illicit drugs will reduce accidental and fatal overdoses. This measure removes barriers to drug checking by excluding drug testing products from the definition of drug paraphernalia.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1550, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1550, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair