Bills

SR 207: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL AND UTILIZE ELECTRONIC scanning EQUIPMENT AT EACH STATE AIRPORT AND HARBOR TO SCAN FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: Senate
Latest Version Date: 2025-04-02

Current Status:

Passed

(2025-04-03: Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

Version:

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL AND UTILIZE ELECTRONIC scanning EQUIPMENT AT EACH STATE AIRPORT AND HARBOR TO SCAN FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

Version:

SR207 SD1

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	207
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL AND UTILIZE ELECTRONIC scanning EQUIPMENT AT EACH STATE AIRPORT AND HARBOR TO SCAN FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

WHEREAS, the illegal importation and use of fireworks pose significant threats to public safety, property, and the environment in the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the presence of illegal fireworks contributes to hazardous conditions, including fires, injuries, and disturbances to residents and pets; and

WHEREAS, current enforcement measures have proven insufficient in preventing the unlawful entry of fireworks into the State; and

WHEREAS, improved screening methods at state airports and harbors would serve as a proactive measure to curb the influx of illegal fireworks; and

WHEREAS, modern electronic scanning equipment can detect contraband materials, including many types of explosives and fireworks; and

WHEREAS, implementing scanning technology at state airports and harbors would enhance the ability of law enforcement and regulatory agencies to intercept and prevent the distribution of illegal fireworks; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, that the Department of Transportation is requested to install and utilize electronic scanning equipment at each state airport and harbor to scan for illegal fireworks; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that for any commercial harbor, the Department of Transportation is requested to install and utilize electronic scanning equipment away from the harbor to ensure minimal disruptions to the flow of commerce; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation.

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Airports; Harbors; Illegal Fireworks; Inspection Facilities

SR207

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	207
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL AND UTILIZE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AT EACH STATE AIRPORT AND HARBOR TO SCAN FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.

WHEREAS, the illegal importation and use of fireworks pose significant threats to public safety, property, and the environment in the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, the presence of illegal fireworks contributes to hazardous conditions, including fires, injuries, and disturbances to residents and pets; and

WHEREAS, current enforcement measures have proven insufficient in preventing the unlawful entry of fireworks into the state; and

WHEREAS, improved screening methods at state airports and harbors would serve as a proactive measure to curb the influx of illegal fireworks; and

WHEREAS, modern electronic scanning equipment can detect contraband materials, including many types of explosives and fireworks; and

WHEREAS, implementing that scanning technology at state airports and harbors would enhance the ability of law enforcement and regulatory agencies to intercept and prevent the distribution of illegal fireworks; now, therefore,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Transportation.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Department of Transportation; Airports; Harbors; Illegal Fireworks; Inspection Facilities

Date	Status
Apr 3, 2025	Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).
Apr 2, 2025	One Day Notice 04-03-25.
Apr 2, 2025	Reported from TCA/PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1627) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).
Mar 24, 2025	The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Wakai, Fukunaga, Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Mar 24, 2025	The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in TCA were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Mar 21, 2025	The committee(s) on TCA/PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
Mar 12, 2025	Referred to TCA/PSM.
Mar 7, 2025	Offered.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 24, 2025	The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs	5 0 0 Passed
Mar 24, 2025	The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts	5 0 0 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Department of Transportation	** Support
O'ahu Filipino Community Council	*** Support	Mar 24, 2025
Oahu Filipino Community Council	** Support

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

SSCR1627 SMA SSCR Ainoa Naniole 2 1 2025-03-29T00:20:00Z 2025-04-03T03:59:00Z 2025-04-03T03:59:00Z 2 389 2204 House of Representatives 22095 89 28 2588 16.00 Print 0 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1627

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.R. No. 207

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.R. No. 207 entitled:

"SENATE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INSTALL AND UTILIZE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AT EACH STATE AIRPORT AND HARBOR TO SCAN FOR ILLEGAL FIREWORKS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Transportation to install and utilize electronic equipment at each state airport and harbor to scan for illegal fireworks.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Oahu Filipino Community Council, and two individuals.

Your Committees received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from Matson Navigation Company, Inc.

Your Committees find that the illegal importation and use of fireworks pose significant threats to public safety, property, and the environment in the State. The presence of illegal fireworks has led to hazardous conditions, including fires, injuries, and disturbances to residents and pets. Your Committees conclude that because current enforcement measures have proven insufficient in preventing the unlawful entry of fireworks into the State, scanning technology at state airports and harbors would serve to curb the import of fireworks.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that for any commercial harbor, electronic scanning equipment is requested to be installed and utilized away from the harbor to ensure minimal disruptions to the flow of commerce;

(2) Amending its title accordingly; and

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

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 207, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 207, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Public Safety and Military Affairs,

________________________________

BRANDON J.C. ELEFANTE, Chair

________________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Mar 24, 2025	SR207_TESTIMONY_PSM-TCA_03-24-25_.PDF

Authors shown for version:
SR207_SD1 (4/2/2025)