KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
|
Senator Carol Fukunaga, Chair |
|
Senator Chris Lee, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF HEARING
|
DATE: |
Monday, February 2, 2026 |
|
TIME: |
3:00 PM |
|
PLACE: |
Conference Room 016 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A G E N D A
|
RELATING TO WEAPONS. Prohibits any person from openly carrying a deadly or dangerous weapon. Includes bladed weapon in the list of deadly or dangerous weapons. Establishes an affirmative defense to a prosecution for the purposes of lawful self-defense and transporting a weapon.
|
PSM, JDC |
|
|
RELATING TO FIREARMS. Establishes mandatory minimum terms of imprisonment for certain class A felonies involving firearms. Changes from a class B felony to a class A felony the penalty for owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition while being prosecuted for or having been convicted of committing a felony, a crime of violence, a criminal offense relating to firearms, or an illegal sale or distribution of any drug. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for ownership, possession, control, or transfer of ownership of any firearms or ammunition by a person who a court order has restrained from contacting, threatening, or physically abusing any person. Changes from a misdemeanor to a class A felony the penalty for carrying a firearm while under the influence of a controlled substance. Establishes possession of methamphetamine while carrying a firearm as a class A felony.
|
PSM, JDC |
|
|
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. Establishes the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program to be administered by the department of law enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to eligible sworn law enforcement officers that have worked a minimum of two thousand hours during the preceding fiscal year. Requires the department of law enforcement to report to the legislature on the effectiveness of the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Appropriates funds for the Kupaa Retention Bonus Program. Sunsets 6/30/2028.
|
PSM, WAM |
|
|
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide $15,000 retention bonuses to all eligible sworn law enforcement officers who meet specified requirements. Requires the Department of Law Enforcement to verify eligibility. Appropriates funds for the payment of retention bonuses.
|
PSM, WAM |
|
|
RELATING TO FIREARMS. Appropriates moneys to support the State's gun buyback program, including at least two gun buyback events in each county.
|
PSM, WAM |
|
|
RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY. Establishes a gradient penalty structure for the offense of hindering prosecution in the first degree, based on the level of offense hindered.
|
PSM, JDC |
|
|
RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY. Establishes 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.
|
PSM, JDC |
|
|
RELATING TO ASSAULT AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS. Establishes appropriate sanctions for the offense of assault against a law enforcement officer in the first degree.
|
PSM, JDC |
|
|
RELATING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. Establishes new deadlines for the completion of Law Enforcement Standards Board certification responsibilities.
|
PSM, WAM |
|
|
RELATING TO HABITUAL VIOLENT CRIME. Amend Act 213, SLH 2024, by repealing its sunset date and requiring the Criminal Justice Research Institute to submit a one-time report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2031. Requires the Attorney General, in consultation with Criminal Justice Research Institute, to submit ongoing annual reports to the Legislature.
|
PSM, JDC/WAM |
|
|
RELATING TO FIREARMS. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to publish, on the Department's public website, an annual report that compiles information on firearms, firearm-related deaths and injuries, and firearm violations.
|
PSM, JDC/WAM |
|
|
RELATING TO FIREARMS. Establishes a Hawaiʻi Firearm Injury Restitution Fund funded by licenses firearm manufacturers as a condition of market participation. Provides no-fault, first-payer coverage for medical and related costs arising from firearm injuries.
|
PSM, WAM/JDC |
|
|
RELATING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. Implements recommendations pursuant to Act 245, SLH 2024 to amend the Hawaii Penal Code.
|
PSM, JDC/WAM |
|
|
|
|
|
Decision Making to follow, if time permits.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.
Please note the following:
· The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.
· Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 2 minutes each.
If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf
For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email PSMcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-586-6460.
|
|
|
_____________________________________ Senator Carol Fukunaga Chair |