STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1114

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 348

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 348, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) 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;

(2) Authorize the Department of Health to inspect sleeping rooms and bathrooms in lodging establishments and issue citations for violations; and

(3) Establish civil penalties for violations and authorize the Attorney General to bring an action in the circuit environmental court for the imposition of civil penalties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Free Access Coalition; Windward Coalition; Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Surfrider Foundation, Kauaʻi Chapter; Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi Region; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health; Marine Science Club at Hawaiʻi Pacific University; Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher; and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 348, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair