HB 470 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO NOISE.

Summary

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)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB470_HD1 → HB470_HD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to replace specific decibel limits with a new requirement that equipment must meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating standard. Additionally, the version includes new provisions allowing counties to adopt stricter local rules and clarifies that government entities are exempt from operational restrictions but must adhere to the new purchase standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new subsection allowing counties to enact stricter ordinances than the state law, and it clarified the specific exemption for government entities regarding the operation of equipment versus the purchase of equipment.

REQUIREMENT

The specific decibel limit of 65 dBA was replaced with a requirement that equipment must meet the ANSI B-175.2 class 1 rating.

ELIGIBILITY

A new provision was added allowing counties to adopt rules or ordinances that place stricter limitations on the use of leaf blowers and weed whackers than the state law.

A new provision explicitly states that government entities are exempt from the operational restrictions found in subsection (a) but must follow the purchase restrictions.

ENFORCEMENT

The penalty structure was modified to include a $50 fine for the first violation, whereas the previous version did not specify an initial fine amount in this manner.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the sales prohibition and purchase restrictions remains July 1, 2028, but the definition of the prohibited equipment changed from a decibel threshold to an ANSI rating standard.

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

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on JHA as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kong, Muraoka voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3).

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 528) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Kong; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 96) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Jan 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, CPC, JHA, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors