STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 528
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 470
H.D. 2
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 470, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NOISE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Increase penalties for violations of leaf blower and weed whacker restrictions;
(2) Repeal the exemption for government entities from leaf blower restrictions; and
(3) Beginning July 1, 2028, prohibit the sale of leaf blowers, string trimmers, and weed whackers rated by their manufacturers at greater than sixty-five weighted decibels when measured at a distance of fifty feet.
Your Committee finds that chronic noise pollution causes a wide variety of adverse health effects, including hearing damage, sleep disturbance, stress, anxiety, depression, impaired cognitive function, and increased cardiovascular effects. The operation of loud leaf blowers, string trimmers, and weed whackers creates a nuisance in many of the State's communities and can detract from the quality of life for residents. This measure therefore regulates the future sale of this equipment after a reasonable period of adjustment, which will reduce nuisance and harm to public health and well-being.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Specifying that the prohibition applies to leaf blowers, string trimmers, and weed whackers that do not meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating, rather than those rated by the manufacturers at greater than sixty-five weighted decibels;
(2) Restoring the exemption for government entities from the leaf blower restrictions;
(3) Beginning July 1, 2028, prohibiting government entities from purchasing leaf blowers, string trimmers, and weed whackers that do not meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating; and
(4) 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 470, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 470, H.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,
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____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair |
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