Supporters of HB256 told a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment that the bill would prevent rollbacks of pollution standards for waste‑to‑energy facilities if the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency weakens federal rules.

The measure, described at the hearing as relating to environmental protection, drew testimony from the Department of Health and several environmental and community groups. "This bill would ensure that the standards that are now in place for waste‑to‑energy facilities ... will stay intact regardless of whether the EPA backtracks on any air or solid waste regulations," Frazier Blaylock of Reworld told the committees, citing a federal announcement about deregulation.

Why it matters: HB256 would let Hawaii maintain state‑level requirements for emissions and solid‑waste handling at incineration facilities even if federal standards change. Proponents framed the bill as a protection for local public health and air and water quality around facilities such as the H‑POWER plant.

Environmental groups also urged the committees to strengthen the bill’s language to address older burners at the H‑POWER facility. "The 35‑year‑old burners ... are missing half of their pollution control devices," said a representative from Energy Justice Network, noting those older units lack nitrogen‑oxide controls and controls for dioxins and mercury that the facility’s newer burner has. The witness said nearly 90 percent of other U.S. incinerators have those controls and urged the state to require the same for older units in Hawaii.

Department of Health testimony was recorded in support. Multiple community groups and individuals filed written testimony and several stood to testify in support; the committee chair read a list of organizations that had submitted written testimony.

Outcome: The chair recommended passing HB256 with amendments. During the committees’ later vote sequence the chair announced the recommendation to pass with amendments; the committees recorded the chair and vice chair voting "aye," and named senators who responded "aye" during roll call. The recommendation was adopted and the chair advanced the bill with amendments and a stated defective effective date on the committee report.

Ending: The committees moved on after the recorded testimony and incorporated the chair’s recommendation in their committee action. No final text of state amendments was read into the record during the hearing; committee staff will include the committee report notes and any technical amendments for later stages.