SR 85 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR, OR THE GOVERNOR'S DESIGNEE, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP ON SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Senate Resolution 85 (SR 85) requests the Governor to form a working group focused on solid waste management, specifically addressing Oahu's landfill challenges. The resolution requires the Governor to convene a 13-member group including representatives from state health/environmental agencies, Honolulu County, water supply, recycling/composting industries, environmental nonprofits, and landfill experts. The working group must submit a report by January 2026 with recommendations on reducing waste and alternatives to landfills, such as improved recycling, composting, and waste-reduction policies. This resolution does not create new laws but seeks collaborative solutions to Oahu's upcoming landfill expiration (Waimanalo Gulch landfill permit expires 2028) and site selection challenges.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SR85 → SR85_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten from a request to the Department of Health to form a working group into a request to the Governor to convene one. The scope expanded to include additional industry representatives (reuse, deconstruction, Zero Waste USA, environmental nonprofits, landfill experts, and pricing experts) and the US Armed Forces. The report requirements were broadened to include materials management policies and alternative technologies for non-recyclable waste.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from requesting the Department of Health to establish a working group to requesting the Governor to convene a working group with a broader membership including industry representatives, experts, and the US Armed Forces.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the entity responsible for convening the working group from the Department of Health to the Governor or their designee.

Added new required working group members including representatives from the reuse industry, deconstruction industry, Zero Waste USA, Hawaii-based environmental nonprofits, landfill liner leakage experts, unit-based pricing experts, and the US Armed Forces.

Expanded the required report content to include materials management policies that reduce waste and alternative technologies for waste that cannot be recycled or composted.

Changed the distribution of certified copies to be sent to the Governor, who must then transmit copies to each stakeholder invited to the working group.

Removed specific references to the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill location (changed from Nanakuli to Kapolei) and the requirement for the report to be submitted to the Legislature.

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

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from HHS/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1589) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa.

upper

Mar 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: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-31-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 11, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/AEN.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors