RELATING TO LABELING.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: HOLT, KAHALOA, LA CHICA, LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, OLDS, POEPOE, TODD
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify what happens if the EPA does not approve a submitted label.

Labeling Requirements for Non-Flushable Wipes

This bill requires manufacturers to label certain premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes with 'DO NOT FLUSH' and submit these labels to the EPA by January 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

Requires manufacturers of specific types of wet wipes to put a 'DO NOT FLUSH' label on their products.
Specifies that the label must be visible and clear, with certain size requirements based on the product packaging type.
Prohibits any representation that these wipes are flushable.

Who It Names or Affects

Manufacturers of premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes
Consumers who buy and use these products

Terms To Know

Covered product: Premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes that are likely to be flushed, such as baby wipes or cleaning wipes.
Principal display panel: The main side of a product package where the label is most visible during retail sales.

Limits and Unknowns

It is unclear how enforcement and compliance will be monitored after the effective date.
The penalties for violations are set but do not provide details on how they will be enforced.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment adds a new part to Hawaii Revised Statutes requiring certain non-flushable products to be labeled with 'DO NOT FLUSH' in a prominent location.

Defines 'covered product' as premoistened wipes that are likely to be flushed and composed of petrochemical fibers, including baby wipes, adult hygiene wipes, antibacterial wipes, etc.
Specifies the size and placement requirements for the label notice ('DO NOT FLUSH') on different types of packaging (cylindrical, flexible film, refillable tub).
Prohibits any representation that a covered product is flushable.

The amendment text was truncated at the end and does not provide complete information about all requirements or approval processes.
Some technical details about packaging design elements are included but may be difficult to understand without additional context.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: The amendment adds requirements for labeling non-flushable products to prevent them from being flushed down toilets.

Defines 'covered product' as premoistened wipes that are likely to be used in a bathroom and have the potential to be flushed, including baby wipes, adult hygiene wipes, antibacterial wipes, cleaning wipes, etc.
Requires covered products to display a label notice saying 'DO NOT FLUSH' on their principal display panel or other conspicuous locations as specified for different types of packaging.
Prohibits any representation that a covered product is flushable.

The amendment text was truncated, so some details about the approval process and submission requirements to federal agencies are not included.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment adds new labeling requirements for non-flushable products in Hawaii, requiring manufacturers to prominently display 'DO NOT FLUSH' labels on packages.

Defines 'covered product' as premoistened wipes that are likely to be flushed and composed of petrochemical fibers.
Specifies the size and placement of 'DO NOT FLUSH' labels on different types of packaging, including cylindrical, flexible film, and refillable tub packages.
Prohibits any representation that a covered product is flushable through labeling or branding.

The amendment text was truncated at the end, so some details about manufacturer requirements may be incomplete.

Bill History

2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-15 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).
2025-04-14 H
House Conferees Appointed: Matayoshi, Todd, Takenouchi Co-Chairs; Holt, Pierick.
2025-04-14 H
Re-referred to CPC, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 31
2025-04-11 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
2025-04-10 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-08 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 689) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-08 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) McKelvey. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-04 S
One Day Notice 04-08-25.
2025-04-04 S
Reported from CPN/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1799) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2025-04-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-04-02 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on CPN/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-02-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-03-21 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN/WAM.
2025-03-21 S
Reported from HHS/AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1236) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN/WAM.
2025-03-14 S
Re-Referred to HHS/AEN, CPN/WAM.
2025-03-12 S
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, DeCoite, Rhoads; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-12 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-07 S
The committee(s) on HHS/AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to HHS/AEN, CPN.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 302).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Kong, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1058) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-25 H
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Perruso, Takayama, Todd; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kahaloa, Garcia, Shimizu.
2025-02-21 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 02-25-25 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-11 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-11 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 432) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
2025-02-05 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 02-05-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LABELING.
DOH; Labeling Requirements; Do Not Flush; Premoistened Nonwoven Disposable Wipes; Consumer Protection; Waste; Environmental Protection; Positions; Appropriations ($)
Establishes labeling requirements for certain premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes. Requires certain manufacturers of covered products to submit for approval, their "DO NOT FLUSH" label notices and symbols to the United States Environmental Protection Agency by 1/1 2026. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB918

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

918

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Labeling
.

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

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SECTION
1.
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Chapter 342D, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new part to be appropriately designated and to
read as follows:

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Part
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labeling of non-flushable products

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�342D-
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Definitions.
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As used in this part:

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"Covered product" means:

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(1)
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A premoistened nonwoven disposable wipe
marketed as a baby or diapering wipe; or

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(2)
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A premoistened nonwoven disposable wipe that
is:

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(A)
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Composed entirely or in part of petrochemical‑derived
fibers; and

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(B)
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Is likely to be used in a bathroom and has
significant potential to be flushed, including:

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(i)
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Bathroom cleaning wipes;

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(ii)
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Toilet cleaning wipes;

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(iii)
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Hard surface cleaning wipes;

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(iv)
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Disinfecting wipes;

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(v)
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Hand sanitizing wipes;

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(vi)
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Antibacterial wipes;

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(vii)
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Facial and makeup removal wipes;

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(viii)
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General purpose cleaning wipes;

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(ix)
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Personal care wipes for use on the body;

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(x)
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Feminine hygiene wipes;

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(xi)
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Adult incontinence wipes;

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(xii)
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Adult hygiene wipes; and

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(xiii)
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Body cleansing wipes.

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"Label
notice" means the phrase "DO NOT FLUSH" in a size equal to no
less than two per cent of the surface area of the principal display panel.

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"Principal
display panel" means the side of a product package that is most likely to
be displayed, presented, or shown under customary display conditions for retail
sales.
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A principal display panel shall include
the following:

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(1)
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In the case of a cylindrical or nearly cylindrical
package, the surface area of the principal display panel contributes forty per
cent of the product package, as measured by multiplying the height of the
container by the circumference; and

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(2)
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In the case of a flexible film package, in
which a rectangular prism or nearly rectangular prism stack of wipes is housed
within the film, the surface area of the principal display panel constitutes
the length multiplied by the width of the side of the package when the flexible
packaging film is pressed flat against the stack of wipes on all sides of the
stack.

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"Symbol"
means the "DO NOT FLUSH" symbol as depicted in the INDA/EDANA Code of
Practice Second Edition and published in the "Guidelines for Assessing the
Flushability of Disposable Nonwoven Products, Edition 4, May 2018".

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342D-
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Labeling requirement.
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(a)
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Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4), a covered product sold,
offered for sale, or distributed for sale in this State shall include the
following labels prominently displayed in a conspicuous location that is
reasonably viewable each time a covered product is dispensed:

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(1)
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If the package is cylindrical or near
cylindrical:

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(A)
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The symbol and label notice shall be placed on
the principal display panel; or

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(B)
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The symbol shall be placed on the principal display
panel, and the symbol or label notice, or both, shall be placed on the flip lid,
covering no less than eight per cent of the surface of the flip lid, and may be
embossed;

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(2)
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If the package is a flexible film package, the
symbol shall be placed on the principal display panel and the dispensing side
panel.
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The label notice shall be placed
on the principal display panel, the dispensing side panel, or both;

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(3)
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If the package is a refillable tub or other
rigid packaging intended to be reused, the symbol and label notice shall be
placed on the principal display panel; and

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(4)
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If the packaging is not subject to the
requirements described in paragraphs (1), (2), or (3), the symbol and label
notice shall be placed on the principal display panel.

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(b)
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The labels described in subsection (a), paragraphs
(1) and (3), shall comply with the following:

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(1)
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No seams, fold, or other package design elements
shall obscure the symbol or label notice;

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(2)
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The symbol and label notice shall appear in
sharp contrast to the background; and

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(3)
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The symbol shall be sized no less than two per
cent of the surface area of the principal display panel.

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(c)
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If a covered product is sold, offered for
sale, or distributed for sale in bulk packaging, the label on each individual
package of covered products and the outer bulk packaging shall comply with the
requirements in this section, as applicable; provided that nothing in this
subsection shall apply to:

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(1)
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An individual package of covered products
contained within the outer bulk packaging that is not intended to dispense
individual wipes and contains no retail labeling;

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(2)
�
Outer bulk packaging that does not obscure the
symbol and label notice on the individual packages of covered products; and

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(3)
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The outer packaging or outer bulk packaging of
consumer products not covered by this section that are sold, offered for sale,
or distributed for sale in combination with a covered product; provided that the
symbol and label notice shall be placed on the covered product in a conspicuous
location that is reasonably viewable if the packaging of the combination
product is smaller than three inches by three inches.

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(d)
�
No covered products sold, offered for sale,
or distributed for sale in this State shall make any representation that a
covered product is flushable, including through the use of a product name,
endorsement, depiction, illustration, trademark, or trade name.

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(e)
�
The label requirements provided in this section
shall apply to covered products that are regulated pursuant to, and to the
extent any label requirements do not conflict with:

����
(1)
�
The Hazardous Substances Act, 15 United States
Code sections 1261 to 1278; and

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(2)
�
The Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide
Act, 7 United States Code sections 136 to 136y.

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(f)
�
Not later than January 1, 2026, the
manufacturer of a covered product required to be registered with the agency or
department pursuant to the Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7
United States Code sections 136 to 136y, shall submit a copy of a symbol and
label notice pursuant to this section, to the agency or department.
�
Upon approval of the symbol and label notice
by the agency, the manufacturer of the covered product shall submit a copy of
the approved symbol and label notice to the department and begin using the
approved symbol and label notice or portion thereof.
�
If the agency or department does not approve
the symbol and label notice, the manufacturer of the covered product shall use
the symbol and label notice that the agency previously approved until the
agency approves a new symbol and label notice.
�
A symbol and label notice approved or
partially approved under this subsection shall be in use within six months
after the agency approves the symbol and label notice.

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As used in
this subsection:

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"Agency"
means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

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"Department"
means the department of agriculture.

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�342D-
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Penalties.
�

(a)
�
Any person in violation of
this section shall be subject to a civil fine as follows:

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(1)
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For a first violation, a civil fine of not
more than $2,000;

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(2)
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For a second violation, a civil fine of not
more than $5,000; and

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(3)
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For a third or subsequent violation, a civil
fine of not more than $10,000.

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(b)
�
A violation of this section may be prosecuted
by the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the violation occurred or by
the attorney general."

����
SECTION
2.
�
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 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on January 1,
2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Labeling
Requirement; Do Not Flush; Wipes; Consumer Protection; Wastewater Treatment;
Waste; Environmental Protection; Sewage

Description:

Establishes
labeling requirements for certain premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes.
�
Establishes civil penalties.

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