STAND. COM. REP. NO. 116

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 85

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 Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 85 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit lodging establishments from providing personal care products in small plastic containers within sleeping room accommodations, any space within sleeping room accommodations, or bathrooms used by the public or guests.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association, Kohala Coast Resort Association, Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Plastics Industry Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that the use of single-use toiletries in hotels and other lodging establishments contributes to plastic waste locally and globally. In response, states like California and New York have recently passed laws that prohibit hotels, bed and breakfast homes, and short-term vacation rentals from providing single-use personal care products. This measure would tackle the ever-growing problems associated with plastic waste and transition consumers and businesses toward more sustainable alternatives.

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.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 85, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 85, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism,

____________________________

SEAN QUINLAN, Chair