STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1626-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.R. No. 184

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.R. No. 184 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE MATTRESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM DESIGN WORKING GROUP TO STUDY, EVALUATE, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE STRUCTURE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A STATEWIDE MATTRESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Joint Legislative Mattress Stewardship Program Design Working Group to study, evaluate, and make recommendations on the structure and implementation of a statewide mattress stewardship program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Solid Waste Reduction Task Force of the Hawaii Environmental Change Agents; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that discarded mattresses and box springs present significant environmental challenges due to their size, composition, and low rates of recycling, contributing to landfill capacity strain and illegal dumping. Your Committee further finds that a mattress stewardship framework that provides for extended producer responsibility can support expanded collection, reuse, and recycling of these products while distributing costs equitably. Your Committee recognizes the need to properly assess the viability and development of a mattress stewardship program and believes this measure addresses this need by establishing a working group to develop recommendations on the structure and implementation of such a program.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 184 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair