SCR 205 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A COMMUNITY NOISE WORKING GROUP TO DISCUSS POLICIES AND LEGISLATION WITH RESPECT TO NOISE SOURCES AFFECTING THE COMMUNITY.

SCR 205 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Health to form a Community Noise Working Group. The group must include the Director of Health (as chair), state legislators, Honolulu City Council representatives, law enforcement officials, and a noise expert. The Working Group will discuss policies and potential legislation to address noise pollution from sources like concerts in residential areas, which currently lack permitting requirements. The group must submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by 2026. This resolution directly affects community members exposed to excessive noise and the Department of Health, which is tasked with organizing the group.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SCR205 → SCR205_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly revised to shift from requesting the Department of Health to immediately set noise rules to instead requesting the creation of a Community Noise Working Group to study the issue and propose legislation. This changes the approach from direct regulation to a research and recommendation process.

Scope change

The bill now applies to establishing a working group rather than immediately implementing decibel limits

REQUIREMENT

Changed the primary request from adopting maximum decibel rules to convening a Community Noise Working Group to discuss policies and legislation

Added specific membership requirements for the working group including representatives from various government agencies and departments

TIMELINE

Set a deadline for the working group to submit findings and recommendations by twenty days prior to the 2027 Regular Session

ENFORCEMENT

Removed immediate enforcement mechanisms and replaced with a study process to determine future legislation

DEFINITION

Added specific list of working group members including noise expert and representatives from multiple agencies

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 28

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 534) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted as amended (SD1). Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1553) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-28-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors