STAND. COM. REP. NO. 663-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2804

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2804 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NOISE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Increase the fines for violations of leaf blower restrictions;

(2) Remove the leaf blower restriction exemption for government entities and their agents; and

(3) Beginning July 1, 2027, prohibit the sale of leaf blowers and string trimmers that are rated by their manufacturers at greater than seventy decibels when measured at a distance of fifty feet.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Waikiki Neighborhood Board No. 9 and four individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Parks and Recreation of the City and County of Honolulu. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that excessive noise can be a pollutant that affects public health. The numerous effects of noise combine to detract from the quality of life for residents of Hawaii and its environment. Your Committee further finds that the sound emissions from leaf blowers and string trimmers are a nuisance and a concern for the State's public health and welfare. Some leaf blowers and string trimmers operate at approximately ninety decibels, which can cause hearing damage after two hours of exposure. Your Committee notes that the technology for quiter leaf blowers and string trimmers is improving and that there are currently viable, quieter alternatives to loud leaf blowers and string trimmers. This measure will encourage the purchase of quiter models and will give sufficient time for retailers to adjust their inventory of sales models.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the noise level rating threshold for leaf blowers and string trimmers to greater than sixty-five weighted decibels (dBA) when measured at a distance of fifty feet;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2804, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2804, H.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair