HB 644 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

Summary

Prohibits the distribution, sale, or use of single-use plastic food ware containing plastic with regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances by businesses beginning on 1/1/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB644_HD1 → HB644_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to shift its primary focus from banning general single-use plastics to specifically prohibiting single-use plastic food ware containing 'forever chemicals' (PFAS). This change narrows the scope of the ban, meaning businesses can continue using standard single-use plastics like cups and straws as long as they do not contain PFAS. The legislative findings were also updated to emphasize the health risks of PFAS over general plastic pollution.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from a broad ban on all single-use plastic food ware to a targeted ban only on items containing regulated PFAS chemicals.

SCOPE

The ban now applies only to single-use plastic food ware containing PFAS, removing the prohibition on standard single-use plastics that do not contain these chemicals.

DEFINITION

The definition of prohibited items was updated to explicitly require the presence of regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for the ban to apply.

ENFORCEMENT

The enforcement language was adjusted to include 'use' alongside 'distribution' and 'sale' for items containing PFAS.

TECHNICAL

The bill title and description were updated to reflect the new focus on PFAS rather than general plastic waste.

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

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to CPN/AEN, JDC.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN/AEN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 7).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Kong, Muraoka voting no (4) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Matsumoto, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (5) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 760-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen, Marten, Pierick.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 15-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Jan 29, 2026

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; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Matsumoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Chun, Quinlan.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

9 primary · 0 co-sponsors