STAND. COM. REP. NO. 59-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1948

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.B. No. 1948 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit lodging establishments in the State from providing small, single-use plastic containers of personal care products to any person staying in a sleeping room accommodation, in any space within the sleeping room accommodation, or in any bathroom used by the public or guests.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Surfrider Foundation Hawaiʻi Region and five individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that plastic pollution is a major threat to the oceans, the environment, and human health, and that most discarded plastic ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment where it breaks down to harmful microplastics that contaminate water, food, and the air. Your Committee further finds that single-use plastics are intended to be disposed of shortly after use and are often used to package the complimentary toiletries that are supplied by hotels and other lodging establishments. This measure is intended to reduce the use of harmful single-use plastic waste in Hawaii while making the visitor industry more sustainable by banning lodging establishments from using single-use plastics when providing complimentary personal care products to guests.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending the definitions of "personal care product" and "small plastic container";

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

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1948, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1948, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

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

____________________________

ADRIAN K. TAM, Chair