STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1834-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 888

S.D. 2

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 888, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit operators of smart household security devices from:

(1) Sharing user data with law enforcement agencies unless the user consents, the law enforcement agency obtains a judicial warrant, or there is an emergency situation involving a clear and present danger of imminent death or great bodily harm; and

(2) Requiring users to consent to the sharing of data with law enforcement agencies as a condition of using a smart household security device.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the integration of smart surveillance technology into homes has created new vulnerabilities regarding the privacy of personal data and the potential for government overreach. Your Committee further finds that clear legal standards are necessary to ensure that sensitive audio and visual recordings from residential devices are protected from disclosure unless specifically authorized by the consumer or required by law. This measure establishes safeguards for the privacy of smart household security device data by restricting its disclosure to law enforcement agencies in specific, authorized circumstances.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definition of "operator"; 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 888, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 888, S.D. 2, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair