STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2569

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2349

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2349 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEAF BLOWERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit the sale, offer for sale, or operation of gasoline-powered leaf blowers;

(2) Increase the amounts of fines for offenses against leaf blower restrictions and provide for the forfeiture of gasoline-powered leaf blowers on a third violation; and

(3) Remove the exemption on leaf blower restrictions for government agencies.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from 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 the Attorney General, Department of Education, and Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that the rapid proliferation of noise pollution, especially in urban areas, can be detrimental to the overall health of Hawaii's people. Excessively loud and unabated noises can result in physiological, psychological, and economic damage. Your Committee believes that residents are entitled to a healthy and peaceful environment free from noise pollution that may be hazardous to their health or welfare. This measure addresses noise pollution in Hawaii's communities by discouraging and banning the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2349, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2349, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair