Environment

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 786: RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING.

Allows the Department of Health to use money in the Deposit Beverage Container Deposit Special Fund to deploy reverse vending machines. Repeals certain exemptions for beverage dealers from the requirement to operate redemption centers. Allows for the establishment of regional centers for the redemption of refillable beverage containers but not as substitutes for dealers' means to receive deposit beverage containers. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill promotes beverage container recycling via reverse vending machines and redemption centers, reducing waste and pollution per environmental protection indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 790: RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Establishes an installation goal for customer-sited distributed energy resources in the State. Ensures that fair compensation is provided to distributed energy resources exports as part of grid service programs. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEstablishes renewable energy installation goals and fair compensation for distributed resources, directly advancing renewable infrastructure development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentEstablishes renewable energy installation goals and fair compensation for distributed resources, directly advancing clean energy adoption and environmental protection.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 252: RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Clarifies that the importation of any pest or material infested or infected with an insect or other animal, disease, or pest is prohibited. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to administratively inspect any article imported or moved into the State from the continental United States or between the Hawaiian Islands. Prohibits the sale, barter, or donation of items or material that is a pest, is infested or infected with a pest, or prohibited from being sold. Authorizes the Department of Agriculture to compel the quarantine, treatment, or destruction of certain materials. Clarifies penalties for various quarantine and import law violations, based in part on whether violations were knowingly committed. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits importation/sale of invasive species and authorizes inspections to protect ecosystems, directly advancing environmental conservation goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 470: RELATING TO NOISE.

Beginning 7/1/2028, prohibits the sale of any leaf blower, string trimmer, or weed whacker that does not meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating. Increases fines for violations of leaf blower, string trimmer, and weed whacker restrictions. Beginning 7/1/2028, prohibits government entities from purchasing leaf blowers, string trimmers, or weed whackers that do not meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRegulates noise pollution via equipment standards, reducing environmental noise impact as a form of pollution control.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 379: RELATING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Requires newly installed or modified individual wastewater systems that are near the shoreline to include denitrification capacity. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires denitrification in shoreline wastewater systems to reduce nitrogen pollution, directly strengthening nearshore water protection per environmental indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 932: RELATING TO GREEN BONDS.

HB 932 proposes creating a Green Bonds Working Group within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a program for issuing state green bonds. The working group would advise the department on structuring and implementing a green bond initiative, which would fund projects with environmental benefits like renewable energy or conservation. This bill directly affects state agencies involved in economic development and finance, though it does not authorize bond issuance itself. As of now, the bill passed committee recommendation with amendments and is pending further legislative action.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyProposes Green Bonds Working Group to fund renewable energy projects via state bonds, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure investment as per indicators.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates Green Bonds Working Group to develop program funding renewable energy and conservation projects, directly advancing environmental initiatives through state financing.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 746: RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES.

Establishes a two-year coconut rhinoceros beetle eradication pilot program in certain areas under the Department of Land and Natural Resources that incentivizes community members to collect and submit the coconut rhinoceros beetle and its larvae for compensation. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes invasive species eradication program to protect ecosystems, funds community efforts against coconut rhinoceros beetle, directly aligns with environmental conservation goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 639: RELATING TO UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANKS.

Requires an owner or operator of an underground storage tank or tank system with a confirmed release to meet certain standards for the restoration of the environment. Establishes a rebuttable presumption that any detection of these contaminants in the vicinity of an underground storage tank or a tank system after a confirmed release is a result of the confirmed release. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates environmental restoration standards after tank releases, directly addressing contamination and water quality protection per bill's requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1495: RELATING TO THE KEAUHOU AQUIFER SYSTEM.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Keauhou Aquifer System Monitoring Pilot Project within the Department of Land and Natural Resources. Appropriates funds for the installation of two monitoring wells in the Keauhou Aquifer System. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentFunds monitoring of Keauhou Aquifer System for water resource management, aligning with conservation and natural resource protection efforts.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 984: RELATING TO WATER POLLUTION.

Requires a landowner in possession of ten thousand or more acres in the State to be liable for damages and fines arising from runoff originating on the land and entering into state waters. Requires the Department of Health to prioritize enforcement of water pollution control regulations in rural areas where there are existing reports of runoff and other terms of water pollution. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires landowners to pay damages/fines for runoff pollution, mandates DOH enforcement in rural areas with runoff reports - strengthens water pollution control regulations.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Environment

Track