STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2567
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2941
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2941 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DISPOSABLE BODYBOARDS,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Prohibit the sale, rental, or distribution of disposable bodyboards in the State; and
(2) Establish penalties.
Your Committee finds that polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam, once discarded, can quickly disintegrate and leave behind plastic foam that can pollute the State's reefs, shoreline, and marine ecosystems. Many disposable body boards that contain polystyrene are sold, rented, or distributed throughout the State. Your Committee further finds that the Kauai County Council recently established a prohibition of these disposable bodyboards in an effort to mitigate ocean pollution. Therefore, this measure will support a shift towards durable and reusable options to effectively reduce waste, promote responsible tourism, and encourage a more mindful environmental footprint that works to sustain the State's coastal and marine habitats by expanding the disposable bodyboard ban statewide.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2941 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,
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________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair |
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