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Yes: 237 • No: 11
HawaiiHB 14832025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)HouseWALLET
RELATING TO FIREWORKS.
Sponsored By: Scot Z. Matayoshi (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Establishes various criminal offenses and penalties related to fireworks or articles pyrotechnic. Amends multiple definitions and penalties for fireworks offenses, including heightened penalties if another person suffers substantial bodily injury, serious bodily injury, or death as a result of the fireworks offenses. Adds fireworks infractions to the existing adjudication of infractions process for traffic and emergency period infractions. (CD2)
FireworksCriminal OffensesPenaltiesInfractionsAdjudicationPSM/JDC, WAM
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Bill Overview
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16 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 10 costs, 5 mixed.
Property controllers face fireworks liability
People responsible for property face a petty misdemeanor for allowing unpermitted aerial-device, pyrotechnic-article, or display-fireworks use, even through negligence. Allowing those items or pyrotechnic composition to be stored without a license is a misdemeanor. Storage totaling 25 pounds or more is a class C felony. A qualifying fireworks conviction within 10 years or substantial bodily injury raises the offense one level; serious bodily injury or death raises it two. Harm-based increases do not require proof that the property controller knew the fireworks caused the harm.
Parents face penalties for minors' fireworks
Adults with custody or control of minors cannot knowingly allow them to possess, buy, or set off fireworks. Parents or guardians may allow consumer-firework use under an adult's immediate supervision and control. Violations are misdemeanors, rising to class C felonies for substantial bodily injury and class B for serious bodily injury or death. The adult is strictly liable for those harmful results, without proof of intent or awareness of the injury or death.
Fireworks buyers pay fees, face limits
A permit to buy and use firecrackers costs $25. Permits for specified aerial devices, pyrotechnic articles, or display fireworks cost $110. Consumer-fireworks permits for cultural use outside standard periods cost $25. Each person may buy up to 50 permits yearly, except permits under section 132D-10(a)(2). Counties can impose stricter fireworks rules, including stricter limits on firecracker and cultural-use permits.
Fireworks businesses face tighter license rules
Importing, storing, or distributing covered fireworks requires a license; each storage, wholesale, and retail site needs its own license. Possessing aerial devices, pyrotechnic articles, or display fireworks requires the proper license or a display permit. Sellers must check permits, record amounts and types sold, and stay within each permit's remaining amount. Licensed wholesalers can supply licensed retailers, but consumer-fireworks distribution under standard-use permits cannot begin more than five days early. Counties can revoke licenses for violations or unreasonable safety hazards, and licensed shops must post clear warnings about restrictions, liability, and penalties.
Fireworks businesses must allow inspections
County fire officers, including firefighters, can inspect licensees' and permit holders' nonresidential premises and relevant records at reasonable hours. This authority does not cover private homes or dwellings. Refusing access can lead to license or permit suspension or revocation after a hearing. Blocking an inspector is a misdemeanor carrying up to $2,000, one year in jail, or both. A written request for a contested hearing is due within 30 calendar days of the notice and order.
Civil fireworks cases carry payment duties
Fireworks violations not expressly classified as felonies or misdemeanors use civil court procedures, without jail for the infraction. You must answer a notice within 21 days of issuance by admitting, contesting, or admitting and seeking a lower assessment. Courts can enter default judgments, but must consider disclosed finances and cannot assess more than the infraction's maximum fine. Each judgment for the State adds a $20 administrative fee, deposited into the Judiciary computer system fund. A family court judge can also let district court hear children's fireworks infractions, which remain noncriminal.
Fireworks buying and timing rules change
The law removes older timing and location bans, but separate rules still restrict fireworks use near sensitive sites. Consumer fireworks require a permit to buy, possess, or use, except purchases and possession allowed by a license; use remains limited to allowed periods. The separate early-purchase ban is removed, but distribution remains limited to the five days before allowed use periods. Distribution ends at 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Day, 6:00 p.m. on Chinese New Year's Day, and 8:00 p.m. on July 4; licensed wholesale-to-retail transfers are exempt. Permit or use-period violations carry $200 fines, while distribution-timing violations carry $1,000 fines.
Special fireworks uses gain broader exceptions
The law expands exceptions for specified emergency, official-duty, business, farming, and production uses of fireworks. Production uses still require the applicable county permit, department permit, or approval from the responsible authority. Authorized enforcement agencies can test, dispose of, or destroy any fireworks or pyrotechnic articles, not just illegal ones.
Airborne fireworks shipments bring felony charges
Intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly sending or receiving covered fireworks by air is a class C felony. This includes air delivery through couriers, commercial carriers, and mail services. A fireworks conviction within 10 years, or a shipment weighing 5 to under 25 pounds, raises it to class B. Shipments weighing 25 pounds or more bring a class A felony. Current federal explosives license holders are exempt when the shipment follows federal law.
Dangerous fireworks use brings criminal penalties
Intentional, knowing, or reckless use of aerial devices, pyrotechnic articles, or display fireworks without permits is restricted near sensitive sites. Limits include 1,000 feet from listed medical, care, and animal facilities or worship buildings during services, 500 feet from dwellings, and 50 feet from canefields. Restrictions also cover public ways, beaches, parks, designated forests, wildlife preserves, and schools without school authorization; the offense is a misdemeanor, or class C felony after a fireworks conviction within 10 years. Throwing ignited fireworks from, at, or into vehicles, at people or animals, or from above the first floor is a class C felony, as is setting them off above the first floor, inside vehicles, or inside buildings. Lawful indoor firecracker use is excepted; substantial bodily injury raises these use offenses to class B felonies, and serious bodily injury or death to class A felonies, with negligence required for the dangerous-conduct injury enhancements.
Fireworks violations bring weight-based penalties
Unlicensed importing, storage, or distribution of covered fireworks is a class C felony, rising to class B at 25 pounds. For specified unpermitted buying, possession, or use, penalties are $300 below 5 pounds or when weight is unknown; a misdemeanor at 5 to under 25 pounds; class C at 25 to under 50 pounds; and class B at 50 pounds or more. For these offenses, a fireworks conviction within 10 years or substantial bodily injury raises the offense one level; serious bodily injury or death raises it two, with class B becoming class A. Injury and death enhancements do not require proof of intent or awareness of the harmful result; violations without another stated penalty carry $500 to $5,000 fines each. People detained for fireworks violations must give their name and current mailing address when lawfully ordered, provide proof when officers reasonably suspect deception, and face a petty misdemeanor for refusal.
Removing fireworks contents becomes a felony
The law replaces the earlier contents-removal ban with a separate class C felony. It covers removing or extracting combustible or explosive contents from aerial devices, pyrotechnic articles, consumer fireworks, or display fireworks. Removing the earlier ban does not make this conduct legal.
Fireworks shippers face advance notice deadlines
Import rules cover attempted shipments and samples, even when the fireworks are not for sale. Licensees must notify the state fire marshal before shipment and report routing and expected landing dates at booking through the designated system. Missing landing-date notices twice within one year of license issuance can lead to license revocation. Carriers and other shippers must also notify county officials and designated state law enforcement at booking, at least 14 days before arrival or five days before interisland departure, including applicable shipment details. Notice violations cost $1,000 initially, $2,000 after one prior judgment within five years, and $5,000 after two or more prior judgments within five years.
Fireworks suppliers face felony distribution rules
Licensed suppliers commit a class C felony by intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly distributing covered fireworks to someone without required permits. Distribution includes sales, gifts, transfers, deliveries, exchanges, and offers or agreements to distribute. A fireworks conviction within 10 years or resulting substantial bodily injury raises this offense to class B; serious bodily injury or death raises it to class A. Distributing covered fireworks to minors is also a class C felony, except as allowed by the supervised-use provisions. The law removes the separate direct bans on minors possessing, buying, selling, or setting off fireworks, but adult-responsibility rules remain.
Some fireworks property remedies narrow
Property connected to section 132D-14(a)(3) offenses is no longer listed for forfeiture under the specified forfeiture law. Places used for those offenses also lose coverage under the nuisance-abatement provision. Citizens bringing related abatement suits lose the specified victim and witness protections. These property remedies and citizen protections remain for offenses under section 132D-14(a)(1).
Updated rules define covered fireworks
The law updates which products count as aerial, consumer, and display fireworks. Aerial devices include fireworks rising above 12 feet, devices shooting flaming balls or sparks, and specified products containing up to 130 milligrams of explosives. Consumer fireworks include ground-based products, with applicable 12-foot height or radius limits. Display fireworks include fused sets exceeding 50 milligrams of salute powder, and their use requires a county display permit. Exclusions include automotive safety flares, party poppers, pop-its, and explosives or pyrotechnics regulated under the separate workplace-safety law.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Scot Z. Matayoshi
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Terez Amato
Democratic • House
Della Au Belatti
Democratic • House
Cory M. Chun
Democratic • House
Elle Cochran
Republican • House
Luke A. Evslin
Democratic • House
Andrew Takuya Garrett
Democratic • House
Tina Nakada Grandinetti
Democratic • House
Greggor Ilagan
Democratic • House
Darius K. Kila
Democratic • House
Lisa Kitagawa
Democratic • House
Matthias Kusch
Democratic • House
LA CHICA
Affiliation unavailable
LAMOSAO
Affiliation unavailable
Mike Lee
Democratic • House
Nicole E. Lowen
Democratic • House
M.
Affiliation unavailable
Lisa Marten
Democratic • House
Lauren Matsumoto
Republican • House
Tyson K. Miyake
Democratic • House
Amy A. Perruso
Democratic • House
Mahina Poepoe
Democratic • House
Sean Quinlan
Democratic • House
Jackson D. Sayama
Democratic • House
Garner M. Shimizu
Republican • House
Kanani Souza
Republican • House
Gregg Takayama
Democratic • House
Adrian K. Tam
Democratic • House
David A. Tarnas
Democratic • House
Shirley Ann Templo
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/2/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 47 • No: 2
Senate vote • 5/2/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 23 • No: 2
House vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....
Yes: 3 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/25/2025
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....
Yes: 5 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/8/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 23 • No: 2
Senate vote • 4/4/2025
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The...
Yes: 13 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/13/2025
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 1
Senate vote • 3/13/2025
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 1
House vote • 2/28/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 46 • No: 1
House vote • 2/25/2025
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 13 • No: 0
House vote • 2/13/2025
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN...
Yes: 47 • No: 1
House vote • 2/6/2025
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 9 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Act 243, 06/30/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1346).
6/30/2025SenateAct 243, on 06/30/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1346).
6/30/2025HousePassed Final Reading, as amended (CD 2). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none).
5/2/2025SenatePassed Final Reading as amended in CD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and Representative(s) Cochran, Iwamoto excused (2).
5/2/2025HouseReceived notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 889).
5/2/2025HouseReceived notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 824).
5/2/2025SenateTransmitted to Governor.
5/2/2025HouseFloor Amendment No. 7 offered by Rep. Tarnas.
4/30/2025HouseFloor amendment adopted as amended CD 2 with none voting no and Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia excused.
4/30/2025HouseForty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-02-25.
4/30/2025HouseFloor Amendment No. 12 offered.
4/30/2025SenateFloor amendment adopted as amended (CD 2).
4/30/2025SenateSeparated Committee Report.
4/30/2025SenateReport filed.
4/30/2025Senate48 Hrs. Notice 05-02-25
4/30/2025SenateThe Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Kitagawa, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
4/25/2025HouseThe Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Rhoads, Kim, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
4/25/2025SenateReported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 233) as amended in (CD 1).
4/25/2025HouseForty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25.
4/25/2025HouseReported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 233).
4/25/2025Senate48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25
4/25/2025SenateConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 3:30PM in conference room 325.
4/24/2025HouseConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 3:30PM in conference room 325.
4/23/2025HouseConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 3:30PM in conference room 325.
4/22/2025HouseConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-22-25 3:30PM in conference room 325.
4/21/2025House
Bill Text
Bill Text
HB1483_CD1
HB1483_CD1_HFA7
HB1483_CD1_SFA12
HB1483_CD2
HB1483_HD1
HB1483_SD1
Original
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