STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3003

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3011

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 3011, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NOISE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to prohibit any non-government entity or agent thereof from operating a weed whacker in or within one hundred feet of a residential zone, except between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on most days.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Waikiki Neighborhood Board, and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from one member of the Waikiki Neighborhood Board and one individual.

Your Committee finds that many residents and communities in the State are regularly disrupted by excessively loud weed whackers, especially in the early morning and late evening hours. This measure will improve public health and protect local communities from noise pollution and disturbance by restricting weed whacker use.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language exempting government entities, and agents acting on behalf of government entities, from the restrictions against using weed whackers during certain hours if the use occurs during an emergency as defined in section 127A-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Clarifying that government entities, and agents acting on behalf of government entities, will remain exempt from the restrictions against using leaf blowers during certain hours; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3011, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3011, S.D. 2.

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

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KARL RHOADS, Chair