POSTPONED: Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety

The 36^th Legislature’s Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety will meet on Friday, October 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Frits E. Lawaetz Conference Room on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands to consider the following agenda.

BLOCK I                                                                                                                                 10:00 A.M. – 11:15 A.M.

Bill No. 36-0139        An act amending title 31 Virgin Islands Code to assess civil liability for destruction or damage to government property through willful or negligent act

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Honorable Lisa M. Alejandro, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Property and Procurement

BLOCK II                                                                                                                             11:15 A.M. – 1:15 P.M.

Bill No. 36-0151        An act amending title 23 Virgin Islands Code regarding the illegal possession of machine guns and machine gun conversion devices

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Mr. Moleto Smith, Director, V.I. Law Enforcement Planning Commission
Mr. Antonio Emanuel, Director, V.I. Office of Gun Violence Prevention

Bill No. 36-0144        An act amending title 14 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 113 to define and prohibit assault rifles, ban suppressors and silencers, and requiring safety training for licensed rifles and shotgun holders; prohibiting large-capacity magazines and preventing the illegal sales of firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition.

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Mr. Luis Valdes, Florida State Director, Southeast Regional Director, Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands Director of      Outreach, Co-Chair Fuerza 2A, National Spokesman, Gun Owners of America
Mr. Kosei Ohno, Founder, VI Safe Gun Owners
Mr. Ehren Henderson, Former Gun Shop Owner, St. Thomas
Mr. John Canegata, Owner, D&J’s Shooting Gallery, LLC, St. Croix

BLOCK III                                                                                                                         1:15 P.M. – 2:30 P.M.

Bill No. 36-0105        An act amending title 7 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 13, subchapter III by prohibiting the possession, sale, or manufacture of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, delta-6 THC, delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products in the Virgin Islands and for other related purposes

Invited Testifiers:
Honorable Mario M. Brooks, Commissioner, V.I. Police Department
Honorable Gordon Rhea, Esq., Attorney General, V.I. Department of Justice
Honorable Justa “Tita” Encarnacion, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Health
Honorable Louis E. Petersen, PhD, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Agriculture
Honorable H. Nathalie Hodge, Commissioner, V.I. Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs
Ms. Joanne Moorehead, Executive Director, V.I. Office of Cannabis Regulation
Ms. Riise Richards, Chair, V.I. Industrial Hemp Commission, Deputy Commissioner, V.I. Department of Agriculture
Mr. Duane Howell, Executive Director, ARCH Institute
Ms. Lindsey Rithamel, Owner, The Remedy
Mr. William Waldo, Owner, Virgin Abis