RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

SB3041

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3041

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to Public safety
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that, for the past two hundred years, the State's public has
had an expectation of entering private restaurants and places of business
without encountering lethal firearms or large knives.
�
However, the United States Supreme Court case
of
New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass'n, Inc. v. Bruen
, 142 S.Ct.
2111, 2133 (2022) changed this expectation, which has made life more dangerous
for the State's residents by allowing lethal firearms and large knives in many
places where there was previously no expectation they would be encountered by
the public.

����
The legislature believes that to ensure
public safety, the public should be given notice whether they might encounter
lethal and dangerous weapons in places open to the public.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Require

businesses or restaurants open to the public to post a color-coded
placard indicating whether the business or restaurant allows firearms or large
knives to be brought onto the premises; and

����
(2)
�
Require
the department of law enforcement to provide businesses and restaurants with
free and easily downloadable placards.

����
SECTION 2.
�

Chapter 134, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section
to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�
134-
�

Placarding; notice of property owner's permission to carry firearms
or large knives at businesses or restaurants open to the public.
�
(a)
�

Any business or restaurant open to the public shall post a color-coded
placard indicating whether the business or restaurant allows firearms or large
knives to be brought onto the premises.
�

The placard shall be posted in a location clearly visible to the general
public and patrons entering the business or restaurant.

����
(b)
�

The placard shall not be defaced, marred, camouflaged, hidden, or
removed.
�
It shall be unlawful to operate
a business or restaurant unless the placard is posted in accordance with this
section.

����
(c)
�

By January 1, 2027, the department of law enforcement shall provide
businesses and restaurants with free and easily downloadable placards.
�
The placards shall be color-coded as follows:

����
(1)
�
A
green placard shall indicate that the business or restaurant does not allow
firearms or large knives to be brought onto the premises;

����
(2)
�
A
yellow placard shall indicate that the business or restaurant allows either
firearms or large knives to be brought onto the premises, but not both; and

����
(3)
�
A
red placard shall indicate that the business or restaurant allows firearms and large
knives to be brought onto the premises.

����
(d)
�

For the purposes of this section:

����
"Business" has the same
meaning as defined in section 328J‑1.

����
"Large knife" means a knife
with a blade more than inches in length.

����
"Open to the public" means enclosed
or partially enclosed areas to which the public is invited or permitted and
areas within any building available for use by or accessible to the general
public during the normal course of business conducted therein by private
entities, including educational facilities, financial institutions, health care
facilities, hotel and motel lobbies, lanais, laundromats, reception areas,
restaurants, retail food production and marketing establishments, retail
service establishments, retail stores, shopping malls, sports arenas, theaters,
and waiting rooms, but does not include a private residence unless it is used
as a child care, adult day care, or health care facility.

����
"Restaurant" has the same
meaning as defined in section 328J-1.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

����
SECTION 4.
�

If any provision of this Act, or the application thereof to any person
or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other
provisions or applications of the Act that can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Act
are severable.

����
SECTION 5.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 6.
�
This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2027.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DLE;
Firearms; Large Knives; Placards; Businesses; Restaurants; Open to the Public;
Notice; Requirement

Description:

Requires
businesses
or restaurants open to the public to post a color-coded placard indicating
whether the business or restaurant allows firearms or large knives to be
brought onto the premises.
�
By January 1,
2027, requires the Department of Law Enforcement to provide businesses and
restaurants with free and easily downloadable placards.
�
Effective 1/1/2027.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.