STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3019

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2128

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2128, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TRESPASS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Provide that any firearm or motor vehicle possessed and used by a person who hunts on private land without the permission of the owner or occupier of the land shall be forfeited to the State pursuant to chapter 712A, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(2) Authorize a court to reduce the penalty from forfeiture to a fine of a certain amount for a first offense.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Diamond B Ranch LLC; Thompson Ranch; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; McCandless Ranch; Parker Ranch; Ulupalakua Ranch; Triple S Livestock, LLC; and ten individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, NRA Hawaii, and eight individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Hawaii Firearms Coalition.

Your Committee finds that hunters in the State often trespass onto ranches without the permission of the landowner, endangering the families that manage these areas, as well as the livestock. This measure will establish substantial consequences for those who illegally hunt on private land and serve as a strong deterrent to prevent trespassing and poaching.

Your Committee notes the concern raised by the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc. that the minimum fine for a first offense should be increased to ensure that this measure remains a strong deterrent against trespassing and poaching.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by increasing the minimum penalty for a first offense of hunting on private lands from $750 to $2,000.

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 S.B. No. 2128, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2128, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair