STAND. COM. REP. NO. 289-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1759

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 1759 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THEFT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish:

(1) The offense of organized retail theft; and

(2) An Organized Retail Theft Task Force under the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, County of Maui; Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaii Food Industry Association; King's Oahu; JPG Hawaii Inc; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Stolen Stuff Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Lodging & Tourism Association; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Kapalama Neighborhood Security Watch; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that there has been an increase in organized retail crime rings, threatening local communities and businesses. Per capita, retail theft in Hawaii is five hundred sixty-nine percent higher than the average from the other forty-nine states. Your Committee further finds that fifteen states passed laws in 2025 to address organized retail crime. This measure ensures that offenses are established for perpetrators of organized retail theft and convenes a task force of stakeholders to address issues related to this kind of crime.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1759, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1759, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,

____________________________

GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair