STAND. COM. REP. NO. 663

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 268

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.B. No. 268 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISPOSABLE WIPES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to make it unlawful to sell, offer to sell, or distribute for sale in the State any flushable wipe.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.

Your Committee finds that disposable wipes, including wipes identified as "flushable", do not readily break down as toilet paper does when flushed down the toilet and into the wastewater system. This can result in clogs reaching municipal sewer pipes, wastewater pump stations, or treatment plants, which could lead to costly backups and environmentally devastating spills. This measure protects residential and municipal plumbing and sewerage systems, public health, the environment, water quality, and public infrastructure from the detrimental effects of "flushable" wipes by prohibiting their sale, offer for sale, and distribution for sale in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider more developed approaches of other states related to flushable wipes.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 268, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 268, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair