Committee advances several environmental and tourism bills, including lead‑materials ban and single‑use plastics restrictions

During decision making the committee moved several measures forward, adopting amendments where noted and referring some for technical fixes.

HB2316: The measure aligning prohibitions on lead materials in drinking‑water distribution with the Safe Drinking Water Act was moved forward unamended after Department of Health testimony in support.

HB1566: The energy efficiency bill requiring state agencies to expeditiously use energy‑efficient lighting and for HSEO to provide technical assistance was passed with technical and date clarifications; the committee changed the statutory effective date to a placeholder year and adopted consistency edits.

HB1948: Legislation prohibiting lodging establishments from providing small single‑use plastic personal‑care containers in sleeping‑room accommodations (HD1) was passed unamended; DLNR and Department of Health offered comments during testimony.

HB2602: A sustainable tourism infrastructure matching‑grant program was amended to explicitly include bicycling and micromobility infrastructure after testimony from the Hawaii Bicycling League and passed with those amendments.

HB2334: The bill authorizing DOT to assume NEPA responsibilities for certain highway and multimodal projects was moved forward as is with committee support.

For each bill the chair noted the committee’s recommendation and recorded Chair and Vice Chair voting aye; in several instances the committee adopted technical amendments for clarity and effective dates.