STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2783

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2517

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 S.B. No. 2517 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a class C felony penalty for the unlawful possession, control, or transfer of a firearm or ammunition in violation of a valid judicial protective order or restraining order.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Hawaii, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney of the County of Maui, Kauaʻi Police Department, Hawaiʻi Police Department, and three individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from thirty-eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that protective orders are typically issued in circumstances of domestic violence, stalking, or harassment. Violating a protective order, particularly in situations involving the unlawful possession of firearms, is a serious offense that poses a direct and increased threat to the safety of the protected individuals, their families, and the broader community. However, existing law only classifies the violation of these orders as a misdemeanor, which significantly undermines the intent of these legal protections and fails to adequately address the severity of the offense. This measure will ensure that those who violate protective orders by unlawfully possessing, controlling, or transferring a firearm or ammunition are held accountable in a manner that reflects the seriousness of the violation.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of March 22, 2075, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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. 2517, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2517, S.D. 1.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair