HB2121 • 2026

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: KAPELA, AMATO, BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, ICHIYAMA, ILAGAN, KILA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MIYAKE, OLDS, POEPOE, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2026-04-07
Official status: The committee on JDC deferred the measure.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify the exact penalties or enforcement mechanisms.

Ban on Disposable Electronic Smoking Devices

This bill bans the sale, offer for sale, and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices in Hawaii starting January 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Bans the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of any disposable electronic smoking device in the state as of January 1, 2027.
Defines a 'disposable electronic smoking device' as one that is non-refillable and has a non-rechargeable battery.

Who It Names or Affects

Retailers who sell disposable electronic smoking devices
Manufacturers of these devices

Terms To Know

Disposable Electronic Smoking Device: An electronic device used for smoking that is meant to be thrown away after use, typically containing a non-rechargeable battery.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not address the disposal or recycling of existing devices.
It remains unclear how enforcement will be carried out and what specific penalties will apply.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment bans the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of disposable electronic smoking devices in Hawaii starting January 1, 2027.

Adds a new section to Chapter 328J of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that prohibits the sale and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices from January 1, 2027 onwards.

The amendment's effective date is listed as July 1, 3000 in the text, which seems to be an error or placeholder. The actual implementation date for the ban is January 1, 2027.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment bans the sale, offer for sale, and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices in Hawaii starting January 1, 2027.

Prohibits any person or entity from selling, offering to sell, or distributing disposable electronic smoking devices in the state as of January 1, 2027.
Establishes a penalty for violations, though the specific fine amount is not specified.

The exact penalty amount for violating the ban on selling disposable electronic smoking devices has not been determined and needs to be clarified or set by future legislation.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment bans the sale, offer for sale, and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices in Hawaii starting January 1, 2027.

Prohibits any person or entity from selling, offering to sell, or distributing disposable electronic smoking devices in the state as of January 1, 2027.
Defines a 'disposable electronic smoking device' as one that is non-refillable and has a non-rechargeable battery intended for disposal after use.

The exact penalty amount per violation is not specified in the amendment text.

Bill History

2026-04-07 S
The committee on JDC deferred the measure.
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 04-07-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3237) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC.
2026-03-24 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on CPN deferred the measure until 03-24-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-20 S
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, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.
2026-03-16 S
The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to HHS/CPN, JDC.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 363).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1058-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-03 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.
2026-02-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-19 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-19 H
Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 554-26), recommending referral to CPC.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Takenouchi, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Olds.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 02-18-26 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-05 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HLT with Representative(s) Garcia, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Woodson excused (1).
2026-02-05 H
Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 27-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HLT.
2026-02-03 H
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.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EEP on Tuesday, 02-03-26 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to EEP, HLT, CPC, referral sheet 4
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO WASTE MANAGEMENT.
Waste Management; Disposable Electronic Smoking Devices; Sale, Offer for Sale, Distribution; Prohibition; Penalties
Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of any disposable electronic smoking devices in the State. Establishes penalties. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2121

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2121

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to waste management
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that waste from the use of disposable electronic cigarettes
poses significant environmental problems.
�
Disposable electronic cigarettes are not
recyclable and contain hazardous components like lithium batteries and liquid
nicotine, and also contribute to plastic pollution, landfill fires, and toxic
chemical leaching into waterways.
�
According to a study conducted by Truth
Initiative, the nation's largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated
to preventing youth nicotine addiction, over half of young people surveyed
discarded their disposable electronic smoking devices in the trash, with less
than a quarter reporting that they recycled their devices.

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The legislature also finds that the local
and global impact of the world's increasing waste stream is unsustainable and
detrimental to the environmental integrity of the State.
�
The exponential rise in single-use plastics
and bioplastics has worsened problems related to street and beach litter, ocean
pollution, and marine and other wildlife harm.
�
A significant portion of marine debris,
estimated to be eighty per cent, originates on land, primarily as escaped
refuse and litter, much of it plastic, via urban runoff.
�
It is now estimated that 8,750,000 metric
tons of plastic enter the ocean each year from land-based sources.

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The legislature notes that lithium-ion
batteries used in disposable electronic smoking devices pose significant fire
risks.
�
Despite laws regulating the
disposal of lithium-ion batteries, many are improperly discarded and end up in
landfills or other inappropriate parts of the solid waste system.
�
The improper disposal of rechargeable
lithium-ion batteries creates unnecessary safety hazards for workers and
surrounding residents, while also posing environmental threats to the State's
land and water resources, including the aquifer.

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The legislature acknowledges that
according to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, at least five disposable electronic
smoking devices are being thrown away every second in the United States,
amounting to 150,000,000 devices per year.
�
Yet, clear disposal guidance from federal
regulatory agencies and electronic cigarette manufacturers is lacking, leaving
state and local governments responsible for establishing standards to manage
the environmental risks associated with electronic smoking devices.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
protect the environment from hazardous waste associated with disposable
electronic smoking devices by banning the sale of these devices throughout the
State.

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SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 342G, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

"
Part .
�
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

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�342G-
�
Disposable electronic smoking devices;
prohibited.
�
(a)
�

It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to sell, offer for sale,
or distribute for sale any disposable electronic smoking device in the State.

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(b)
�
The sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale
of between one to twenty disposable electronic smoking devices shall constitute
a single violation of this section.

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(c)
�
As used in this section:

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"Disposable electronic smoking
device" means an electronic smoking device that is non-refillable, has a
non-rechargeable battery, or is intended to be disposed of after the contents
inside the device have been used.

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"Electronic smoking
device" has the same meaning as in section 245-1."

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SECTION 3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

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SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on January 1,
2027.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Waste
Management; Disposable Electronic Smoking Devices; Sale, Offer for Sale,
Distribution; Prohibition

Description:

Beginning
1/1/2027, prohibits the sale, offer for sale, or distribution for sale of any
disposable electronic smoking devices in the State.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.