SB 2720 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO FIREARMS.

Summary

Establishes the Hawai?i Firearm Injury Restitution Fund funded by contribution payments made by firearm manufacturers as a condition of market participation. Provides no-fault, first-payer coverage for medical and other costs arising from firearm injuries. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2720 → SB2720_SD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to clarify that the new fund covers injuries from both accidental and intentional discharges, while explicitly removing language that would impose civil liability or fault on manufacturers. The text was streamlined to focus on public health protection rather than economic regulation, and specific effective dates were added to the fund's establishment and licensing requirements.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed to explicitly cover intentional discharges by one person against another, while the legislative intent was rephrased to emphasize public health protection over economic regulation.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'firearm injury' was expanded to include injuries caused by the unjustified or intentional discharge of a firearm by one person against another, in addition to accidental injuries.

ENFORCEMENT

Language stating that the Act is economic regulation rather than punishment was removed to simplify the legislative intent.

ELIGIBILITY

The description of who can claim benefits was changed from a general statement about the fund's purpose to explicitly allowing individuals, personal representatives, or estates to make claims.

TIMELINE

Specific effective dates were added: the fund begins July 1, 2027, and the mandatory licensing requirement for manufacturers begins January 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the department to establish risk categories was modified to include a mandate for periodic updates based on objective product characteristics.

TECHNICAL

A new section was added instructing the revisor of statutes to substitute appropriate section numbers when codifying the new provisions.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2363) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto, Inouye; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C., DeCorte.

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on PSM has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 02-11-26 3:00PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on PSM has deleted the measure from decision making scheduled on 02-09-26 3:14PM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM will hold a public decision making on 02-09-26 3:14PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 02-02-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to PSM, WAM/JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors