Committee backs bill to combine boxing and MMA regulation with safety criteria and shorter implementation

The House Committee on Economic Development and Technology recommended passing Senate Bill 148 with amendments that would convert the current boxing commission and the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ MMA program into a single combat-sports commission and add clarified safety and implementation language.

Witnesses and industry participants expressed support for retaining safety measures already required under the MMA program and for mirroring standards used by other states. “A lot of those requirements are already requirements in the MMA program that the department administers,” a DCCA representative said, urging retention of EMS, ambulance, physician coverage and other medical protocols in the combined commission.

Promoters and participants, including Walter Carvalho of the Big Island, said they support keeping boxing and MMA either separate or as divisions within a combined commission to rebuild events that have declined. Carvalho testified that boxing events had gone from roughly 140 shows a year to zero and urged amendments to avoid stifling smaller promoters.

Committee members pressed DCCA on costs and whether safety mandates would unduly burden small events. DCCA said it will continue discussions with promoters and suggested size-based criteria to reduce costs for smaller events while maintaining protections for larger shows. The committee adopted amendments to add discretionary "shall/may" provisions so large events would meet full safety requirements and smaller events could have tailored standards.

The committee also shortened the requested implementation delay to nine months (from one year in the original testimony) and approved cleanup language to ensure chapter 440 clearly gives the commission jurisdiction over boxing, MMA and other combat sports. At decision making the committee voted to pass SB 148 with the recommended amendments; Representative Holt was excused.