STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1741

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 348

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 348, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Beginning July 1, 2026, for lodging establishments with more than fifty sleeping room accommodations, and beginning January 1, 2028, for lodging establishments with fifty or fewer sleeping room accommodations, prohibit the provision of 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; and

(2) Establish civil penalties.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the American Hotel & Lodging Association; Hawaiʻi Hotel Alliance; Windward Coalition; Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi Region; Surfrider Foundation Maui Chapter; King Kekaulike Environmental Club; and forty-four individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committees find that single-use plastics pose a major threat to the environment and public health. When discarded, single-use plastics often end up in the ocean, causing marine pollution and destruction of vital ecosystems that are of particular importance to island communities. In addition to increasing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing directly to climate change via production and distribution methods, plastics also eventually break down into microplastics, which harm human health. This measure will promote sustainable practices and environmental consciousness in the State's tourism industry by prohibiting the provision of personal care products in small plastic containers in lodging accommodations under certain circumstances.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 348, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommend that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair