HB 1636 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SHOPPING CARTS.

Summary
Requires every business establishment that provides a shopping cart to mark each cart with identifying information. Authorizes a county to impound and dispose of a shopping cart and assess impound fees, storage fees, and disposal fees under certain circumstances. Authorizes the counties to establish policies for managing and impounding shopping carts that have been vandalized or no longer display an owner's identifying mark. Requires the counties to establish a buyback program for impounded shopping carts. Authorizes the counties to return a shopping cart, in lieu of impoundment, to the business establishment, subject to certain fines. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Feb 3, 2026
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What changed between versions

HB1636 HB1636_HD1 · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill update expands the state's shopping cart management laws by requiring counties to create a mandatory buyback program for impounded carts and allowing them to set policies for vandalized carts. It also clarifies that businesses cannot be fined for carts stolen from their premises and adjusts the bill's effective date to July 1, 3000.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly mandates that all counties establish a buyback program for impounded shopping carts, whereas previously this was not a requirement. It also broadens county authority to manage vandalized carts.
REQUIREMENT

Counties are now required to establish a buyback program allowing owners to recover impounded carts by paying a fee covering impoundment and operating costs.

Counties are authorized to create policies for managing and impounding shopping carts that have been vandalized or lack identifying marks.

ENFORCEMENT

A new exemption prevents counties from assessing fines or fees if a shopping cart is stolen from a business's premises before being impounded.

TIMELINE

The bill's effective date was changed from 'upon approval' to a specific future date of July 1, 3000.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting and text corrections were made throughout the document, including capitalization and section numbering.

Floor votes

How they voted

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
3
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
lower
Jan 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
lower
Jan 26, 2026
Committee
Referred to ECD, WAL, JHA, referral sheet 1
lower
Jan 21, 2026
Introduced
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Introduced
Prefiled.
lower
6 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors