STAND. COM. REP. NO. 229-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2061

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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2061 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Law Enforcement for the State's Gun Buyback Program, including at least two gun buyback events in each county.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Law Enforcement; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Kauaʻi; Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Mid Pacific Pistol League; SDM Training Group/Bows N Bullets; Puʻuloa Rifle and Pistol Club; For Liberty and Justice Hawaii; Hawaii Firearms Coalition; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that appropriating state funds for the voluntary Gun Buyback Program is an effective and efficient use of public resources to reduce the number of unwanted and unlawful firearms in the community. Your Committee further finds that the Gun Buyback Program offers residents a safe and anonymous option for relinquishing firearms and supports law enforcement in the proper handling and disposition of surrendered weapons.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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 H.B. No. 2061, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2061, 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