STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1376-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2250

S.D. 1

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 Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred S.B. No. 2250, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PROMOTION OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the offense of promoting a controlled substance in, on, or near schools, school vehicles, public parks, or public housing projects or complexes to include homeless facilities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu; Honolulu Police Department; and The Institute for Human Services, Inc. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition and Hina Mauka.

Your Committee finds that homelessness is a growing concern in Hawaii, with 2024 point-in-time counts estimating that 6,389 people statewide were experiencing homelessness, of which 4,494 were situated on Oahu. Your Committee further finds that the 2024 Oahu point-in-time count also found that at least twenty-six percent of the homeless individuals on Oahu self-reported a substance abuse problem. Your Committee recognizes that substance use is a considerable factor that contributes to homelessness in Hawaii. Furthermore, illicit drug activity occurring in, on, or near homeless shelter developments threatens the safety of shelter residents and staff and undermines efforts to connect residents to services and stable housing. This measure therefore seeks to deter drug dealers from targeting highly vulnerable populations and reduce drug activity around places intended for the provision of essential housing and support services.

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 Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2250, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2250, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair