HB 893 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

HB 893 bans assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles. It also expands the existing restriction on high-capacity detachable magazines. These provisions would directly affect firearm owners who possess or purchase these specific weapons and magazines. The bill aims to limit access to certain firearms and ammunition devices through these new restrictions.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB893 → HB893_HD1 · 8 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly strengthens Hawaii's firearm restrictions by expanding the definition of prohibited weapons to include assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles, which were previously not explicitly banned under the state's assault weapons law. It also expands the high-capacity magazine ban to cover all firearms and adds new definitions for these weapon types.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of prohibited firearms from just 'assault weapons' to explicitly include assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles, broadening the restrictions on what weapons can be brought into or possessed in Hawaii.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for '.50 caliber rifle', 'assault shotgun', and 'detachable magazine' to clarify what weapons are covered by the ban.

Modified the definition of 'assault shotgun' to include a fixed magazine with capacity for more than five rounds as a prohibited characteristic.

Modified the definition of 'assault shotgun' to include seven characteristics instead of five, adding grenade launcher and fixed magazine capacity over five rounds.

Removed the definition of 'antique pistol or revolver' from the statute.

REQUIREMENT

Added new prohibitions on bringing assault rifles, assault shotguns, or .50 caliber rifles into Hawaii effective July 8, 2025.

Added new prohibitions on selling or transferring assault rifles, assault shotguns, or .50 caliber rifles to anyone other than licensed dealers or police.

Expanded the high-capacity magazine ban to include magazines designed for or capable of use with any firearm, not just specific types.

ENFORCEMENT

Updated Section 134-8 to explicitly prohibit possession of assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles with specific exceptions for registered weapons and lawful activities.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to PSM/CPN, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 300).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kila, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Reyes Oda, Shimizu, Souza voting no (9) and Representative(s) Kapela, Pierick, Ward excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Shimizu; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garcia.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors