HB 893 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

HB 893 prohibits the sale, possession, and transfer of assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles within the state. It also expands existing restrictions by banning high-capacity detachable magazines. The bill directly affects residents who currently own or seek to purchase these specific firearms and magazines. Key provisions establish new criminal penalties for violations of these firearm 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 Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB893 → HB893_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill version updates the legislative metadata and adjusts the effective date for new firearm restrictions from July 2024 to July 2025. It also clarifies the definition of 'magazine' by removing references to using bullets as tools for removal and strengthens the ban on high-capacity magazines by explicitly including those designed for any firearm, not just pistols.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on firearms regulation, but the timeline for enforcement of new bans has been extended by one year, and the definition of prohibited magazines has been broadened to cover all firearm types.

TIMELINE

The effective date for prohibiting the import, sale, or transfer of assault rifles, assault shotguns, and .50 caliber rifles was changed from July 8, 2024, to July 8, 2025.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'magazine' was revised to remove the clause allowing removal with a bullet, cartridge, or accessory as a tool, narrowing the technical criteria for what counts as a removable magazine.

REQUIREMENT

The ban on high-capacity detachable magazines was expanded to explicitly include magazines designed for or capable of use with any firearm, whereas the previous version specified 'a pistol'.

The requirement for transporting assault rifles and shotguns was updated to mandate they be 'unloaded in an enclosed container' rather than specifying a case or box, referencing a new container definition.

The exception allowing possession of assault rifles and shotguns was updated to apply only to weapons registered before the new July 2025 effective date.

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

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors