Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1928: Relating to Deposit Beverage Container Recycling.
Status: In committee, February 12, 2026
Repeals the Deposit Beverage Container Program and replaces it with the Recycling Refund Producer Responsibility Organization Program.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to deposit beverage container recycling.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPOSIT BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that, as an island state with limited land space, Hawaii must limit waste generation or face increasing and costly reliance on off-island waste disposal and recycling management. The legislature further finds that in 2005, Hawaii implemented a deposit return program for certain beverage containers that has performed better than curbside recycling programs, but whose performance and convenience have declined over time, making it difficult for many residents to redeem containers and obtain their deposit refunds. The legislature also finds that well-designed deposit return systems have been proven to significantly reduce litter and packaging pollution by as much as eighty per cent. These programs achieve recycling rates between eighty and ninety per cent and produce high-quality materials that support closed-loop recycling and reduce reliance on virgin resources. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to update the deposit return program to improve efficiency and performance, 2026--1371 HB1928 HD1 HMSO H.B. NcD. ~ reduce burdens on retailers, expand convenient redemption opportunities, and strengthen environmental and economic benefits for the State by repealing the existing deposit beverage container program and replacing it with a program administered by a producer or recycling refund producer responsibility organization. SECTION 2. Chapter 3420, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a …
Sponsors
- Nicole Lowen (D, 7) · primary sponsor
- Della Belatti (D, 26)
- Luke Evslin (D, 16)
- Tina Grandinetti (D, 20)
- Mark Hashem (D, 19)
- Kim Iwamoto (D, 25)
- Jeanne Kapela (D, 5)
- Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D, 2)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
- Trish La Chica (D, 37)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Ikaika Olds (D, 23)
Latest actions
- : Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
- : Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 262-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
- : The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kahaloa, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.
- : Bill scheduled for decision making on Wednesday, 02-11-26 11:30AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- : The committee(s) on EEP recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-11-26.
- : Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 02-10-26 11:15AM in conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- : The committee(s) on EEP recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-10-26.
- : Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 02-03-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- : Referred to EEP, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 3
- : Introduced and Pass First Reading.
Votes
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (February 12, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
- EEP: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 11, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Deposit Beverage Container Recycling, Exemption, Penalties, DOE, Rules, Counties, UH
Common questions
- What is HB1928?
- HB1928 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Deposit Beverage Container Recycling.
- What does HB1928 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to deposit beverage container recycling.
- What is the status of HB1928?
- In committee as of February 12, 2026. Latest action: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). (February 12, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1928?
- Nicole Lowen (D, 7), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1928?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1928&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.