HB 1948 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Summary

Prohibits lodging establishments from providing personal care products in small plastic containers within sleeping room accommodations, any space within sleeping room accommodations, or bathrooms used by the public or guests. Establishes civil penalties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1948_HD1 → HB1948_HD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated from House District 1 to House District 2, reflecting its progression through the legislative process. The text of the bill was edited to clarify that the ban targets small plastic containers that appear intended for immediate disposal, rather than all single-use plastics. Additionally, the enforcement section was streamlined by removing a specific reference to the attorney general's authority to bring actions, while retaining the power to impose civil penalties.

DEFINITION

The definition of prohibited items was refined to specifically target 'small plastic containers' that seem intended for short-term use, rather than broadly banning all single-use plastic toiletries.

ENFORCEMENT

The enforcement clause was simplified by removing a redundant sentence about the attorney general bringing actions in court, while keeping the authority to impose civil penalties intact.

TECHNICAL

Administrative metadata, including the bill number, clerk ID, and various timestamps, were updated to reflect the new version of the document.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDT/AEN, CPN/JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 321).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting no (3) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Kahaloa, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Shimizu; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Garcia; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and none excused (0).

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 451-26), recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Reported from TOU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 59-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EEP.

lower

Feb 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on TOU recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tam, Templo, Holt, Hussey, Ilagan, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to TOU, EEP, JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors