STAND. COM. REP. NO.
Honolulu, Hawaii
2024
APR04
RE: H.R. No. 174
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was
referred. H.R. No. 174 entitled:
“HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO DETERMINE IF XYLAZINE TESTING
STRIPS SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM THE STATE’S DEFINITION OF DRUG
PARAPHERNALIA,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of
the Attorney General to conduct a study to determine if xylazine
testing strips should be excluded from the State’s definition of
drug paraphernalia.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Department of Law Enforcement. Your Committee received
testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of the
Attorney General.
Your Committee finds that there has been a sharp increase in
the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine, also
known as “Tranq,” is a powerful sedative that the United States
Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use only.
Your Committee further finds that since xylazine is not an opioid,
overdose reversal agents such as naloxone do not counteract the
effects of xylazine. This places users at a higher risk of
2024—2786 HR174 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 STAND. COM. REP. NO.tl2~I’ -24
Page 2
suffering from a fatal drug poisoning. People who inject drug
mixtures, containing xylazine can also develop severe wounds,
including necrosis, that may lead to amputation. Your Committee
believes that xylazine testing strips could prevent these
complications and save lives by allowing users to test their drugs
for xylazine before administration.
You~ Committee has amended this measure by amending its title
and substantive provisions to change the agency responsible for
the study from the Department of the Attorney General to the
Department of Law Enforcement.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this
report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R.
No. 174, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the
form attached hereto as H.R. No. 174, H.D. 1.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Judiciary &
Hawaiian Affairs,
DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair
2024—2786 HR174 HD1 HSCR HMSO
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature 14 ~A 11 2 2~’ 2~’e4
Record of Votes of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date: • I. / I
~-~R~4
0 The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: ~ Pass, unamended (as is) Pass, with amendments (HD) C Hold
C Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
JHA Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. TARNAS, David A. (C) V’~
2. TAKAYAMA, Gregg (VC)
3. EVSLIN, Luke A. V
4. GANADEN, Sonny
5. HOLT, Daniel
6. ICH1YAMA, Linda
7. ILAGAN, Greggor V
8. KONG, Sam Satoru V
~
9. MIYAKE, Tyson K.
10. SOUZA, Kanani V
TOTAL (10) z..
The recommendation is: Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym(s)
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature:
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerk’s Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO