SB 674 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Summary

Requires the Department of Health to conduct a statewide needs assessment to determine what will be needed to reduce waste generation, increase reuse, improve recycling collection services, and expand local processing of materials through an extended producer responsibility program for packaging materials and paper products. Requires the Department of Health to complete and submit the needs assessment to the Legislature no later than 12/31/2028. Establishes an advisory council to review the draft needs assessment and propose recommendations throughout the assessment process. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB674 → SB674_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was updated from a House version to a Senate committee draft, primarily adjusting administrative metadata and refining the legislative text. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new category of experts (food safety and packaging specialists) to the advisory council, ensuring the waste assessment considers food safety implications. Additionally, the bill was reworded to explicitly allow the Department of Health to hire outside contractors for the study and clarified that the effective date applies to the entire act rather than just specific sections.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the study's execution was expanded to permit contracting with third parties, and the composition of the advisory council was broadened to include food safety experts.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit authority for the Department of Health to contract with third parties to conduct the statewide needs assessment.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new requirement for the advisory council to include one representative who is a subject matter expert in food safety and packaging.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date language from a specific July 1, 2025 start date to a general December 31, 2050 effective date for the entire act.

TECHNICAL

Updated administrative metadata including author names, template versions, and revision numbers to reflect the Senate draft status.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 426) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Richards, Awa.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fevella.

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor