STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2398

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2045

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 2045 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMBAT SPORTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Rename the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii as the Boxing and Combat Sports Commission of Hawaii and expand its jurisdiction to include combat sports and mixed martial arts;

(2) Prohibit no rules combat or similar combat sports contests;

(3) Repeal the existing mixed martial arts program under Chapter 440E, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Boxing Commission of Hawaii and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Your Committees find that professional combat sports are popular in the State, which presents an opportunity to attract high-profile combat sports events like those staged by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. This measure would create a regulatory framework to support the growth of the combat sports industry in the State.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the definition of "licensed health care provider" to mean a licensed physician;

(2) Inserting language that clarifies the requirement for deputy commissioner reports to the executive officer;

(3) Clarifying the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs shall employ certain professionals as necessary, including inspectors;

(4) Deleting language that would have established a combat sports registry;

(5) Replacing language that would have required a licensed promoter to make payments by cashier's or certified check with language that requires a licensed promoter to provide the Combat Sports Commission with certain documentation verifying amounts paid;

(6) Deleting language that would have required sports combat contest licensure for a health care provider;

(7) Deleting language that would have required an ambulance to be present at a combat sports contest and instead inserting language that requires an inspector to coordinate with the nearest emergency room or hospital before a combat sports contest;

(8) Inserting language that clarifies the composition of the Combat Sports Commission;

(9) Inserting language that clarifies certain definitions;

    (10) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2045, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2045, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism,

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair