STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3654

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 389

H.D. 1

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 Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 389, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO UNCREWED AIRCRAFT OFFENSES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify the applicable felony offenses for using an uncrewed aircraft in the furtherance of the commission of a felony.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that criminal drone use is a growing concern across the United States and represents a serious risk to public safety. Under existing law, when a criminal uses a gun in an armed robbery, for example, the law allows separate convictions for the robbery and the felonious use of a firearm. This measure will allow similar treatment of a criminal defendant who uses a drone in the commission of the crime to assist the prosecution of felonies committed with a drone.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 389, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair