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SB 1159

SB 1159 - This act provides that a person shall not sell or transfer a firearm unless the person is: • A licensed firearms dealer; • Selling or transferring to a licensed firearms dealer; or • If neither party is a licensed firearms dealer, the parties to the transaction complete the sale or transfer through a licensed firearms dealer, as provided in the act. If a firearm is to be transferred through a trust, the transfer shall be completed through a firearms dealer. If the heir or devisee is prohibited from receiving the firearm, the heir or devisee may authorize the transfer to a specific individual or the dealer may be authorized to sell the firearm and have the proceeds given to the heir or devisee. This act provides that neither the state nor any political subdivision shall require a firearms dealer to supply a list of transactions conducted. A firearms dealer shall not be required for transactions involving: • Law enforcement officers or corrections officers in the scope of their duty; • U.S. Marshals, members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, or federal officials within the scope of their duties; • Gunsmiths performing service or repairs; • Persons engaged in the business of transportation or storage, to the extent the receipt of the firearm is in the ordinary course of business; and • Persons loaned a firearm by a relative. Any person violating any of the provisions relating to firearms dealers shall be guilty of a class B misdemeanor. A person guilty of such an offense shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day during any portion of which a violation of this provision is committed or continued. Law enforcement agencies shall report any violation of this act to the Attorney General, who shall report to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives within the United States Department of Justice. This act is identical to SB 543 (2025), HB 356 (2025), and HB 1878 (2024), and similar to SB 731 (2022). TRISTAN BENSON, JR.

2026 Regular Session

SB 1159 Hawaii would ban octopus aquaculture for human consumption (including land-based systems); wild captures and octopus used for research would be exempt.

Second Read and Referred S Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 1159

Bill Summary — SB 1159 (as submitted Feb 7, 2025)

Note up front: the provided document appears to contain multiple, different draft texts and materials from different states (Hawaii, Arizona, Illinois) that were merged together. Below I focus on the primary, consistent text that aligns with the listed Hawaii sponsors (Gabbard, McKelvey, Keohokalole, Rhoads, Wakai, San Buenaventura) — a bill that would prohibit octopus aquaculture in Hawaii. I also summarize the other unrelated materials that appear in the file so readers are aware of conflicting content and should verify the official version with the legislature.

Overview / Purpose

Primary text: This bill would prohibit octopus aquaculture (the propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of octopus) in the State for the purpose of human consumption. The stated legislative findings cite environmental disease risks from farmed octopuses and welfare/ethical concerns due to octopus cognition and aquaculture conditions. The purpose is to prevent ecological harm and protect animal welfare by banning non–wild-caught octopus farming.

Key provisions (Hawaii octopus aquaculture ban)

  • New statute added to Chapter 141, Hawaii Revised Statutes (part IV):
    • Prohibits any person from engaging in aquaculture activities in the State that involve propagation, cultivation, maintenance, or harvesting of any species of octopus for human consumption.
  • Definitions:
    • “Aquaculture activities” explicitly includes land‑based recirculating aquaculture systems.
    • “Octopus” excludes:
    • Wild‑caught octopuses, and
    • Octopuses propagated, cultivated, maintained, or harvested solely for research purposes.
  • Effective date: The Act takes effect upon approval.
  • Savings clause: Does not affect rights/duties matured or proceedings begun before the effective date.

Who would be affected

  • Prohibited:
    • Commercial and private operators planning to farm any octopus species in Hawaii for sale to consumers.
    • Businesses developing land‑based recirculating systems for octopus production.
  • Not affected:
    • Fisheries and commercial enterprises that catch octopus in the wild (wild‑caught octopus remains legal).
    • Research institutions that culture octopus expressly for research purposes (subject to the statute’s research carve‑out).

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Environmental: Aims to reduce risk of pathogen transmission from farmed octopus to wild marine species and ecosystems.
  • Economic: Would preclude development of an octopus aquaculture industry (potentially avoiding new commercial activity and jobs, but preserving wild‑capture markets).
  • Animal welfare/ethical: Responds to concerns about keeping highly cognitive animals in confined aquaculture conditions.
  • Implementation/funding: No appropriation or regulatory implementation language included in the provided text; agencies would rely on existing enforcement mechanisms unless further specified.

Procedural status & sponsors (from provided materials)

  • Introduced: February 7, 2025
  • Sponsors (listed): GABBARD (primary), MCKELVEY (primary), Keohokalole (cosponsor), RHOADS (primary), Wakai (cosponsor), San Buenaventura (cosponsor)
  • Status (as listed): Rule 3‑9(a) / Re‑referred to Assignments. Several committee hearings and calendar actions are recorded in the document; verify latest status with the official legislative website.

Other, unrelated materials contained in the file (verify official bill text)

  • Arizona SB 1159 (different bill number reuse) — amends ARS §23‑356 to raise the department wage‑claim cap from $5,000 to $12,000. (This is an entirely different subject and state.)
  • Illinois SB1159 (different jurisdiction) — a trivial technical amendment to the Roadside Memorial Act (fixing a duplicated word in the short title).

Recommendation

Because the submitted file is a compilation of multiple, inconsistent drafts from different jurisdictions, anyone relying on this summary should confirm the official bill text and current status via the Hawaii State Legislature (or the relevant state site if researching the other texts).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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