SB 1314: RELATING TO FIREARMS REPORTING.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FIREARMS REPORTING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Section 134-9.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§134-9.6[]]  Annual report on licenses to carry.  (a)  [No later than April 1, 2024, and April 1 of each year thereafter, the] The department of the attorney general shall publish [a] an annual report on its publicly available website that includes, if available:

     (1)  The number of licenses to carry applied for, issued, revoked, and denied, further categorized by the age, gender, race, and county of residence of each applicant or licensee;

     (2)  The specific reasons for each revocation and denial;

     (3)  Analysis of denials based on applicants' failure to meet the standards of section 134-9(d), and recommendations to remedy any disparities in denial rates by age, gender, or race;

     (4)  The number of appeals and appeals granted; and

     (5)  The number of violations of section 134-9.1.

     (b)  No later than [February 1] March 31 of each year, the chief of police of each county shall [supply] provide to the department of the attorney general [with] the data for the prior calendar year that the department requires to complete the report under subsection (a)."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

ATG; Firearms; Reporting

Description:

Amends the annual reporting requirements imposed on the Department of the Attorney General and the chief of police of each county regarding licenses to carry firearms.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 554

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 1314

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 1314 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS REPORTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the annual reporting requirements imposed on the Department of the Attorney General and the chief of police of each county regarding licenses to carry firearms.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and one individual.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, SDM Training Group, Bows N Bullets, and numerous individuals

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of the Attorney General and the chief of police of each county are required to publish annual reports concerning licenses to carry firearms.  These reports are of value to policymakers, researchers, educators, and the public interested in laws regulating the ownership or use of firearms.  This measure will remove the reporting deadline for the Department of the Attorney General and extend the reporting deadline for the chief of police, allowing the respective entities more time to complete a report that is vetted for accuracy and completeness.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1314 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs,