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AEN committee: decisions on air filters, tax credits, recycling deposit and agricultural shipping credits
Summary
At its Jan. 24 AEN hearing, the committee deferred SB 10 (reusable air filters) indefinitely, passed SB 13 (aquaculture investment tax credit) and SB 250 (tax credit for inter‑county agricultural transportation) with amendments, and deferred decision on SB 184 (deposit beverage container program) until Jan. 27 to gather more information.
The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Environment took action Jan. 24 on multiple bills at its 1 p.m. agenda. Committee leaders recorded the following outcomes:
SB 10 (reusable air filters): The committee deferred SB 10 indefinitely. The bill, as described in testimony, would prohibit the sale and use of disposable air filters beginning Jan. 1, 2030, and require reusable air filters as the new standard. No supporters appeared in person; three individuals (Douglas Gomes, Brian Miyamoto and Julie O'Rearo) were listed in opposition but did not testify. The committee recorded no questions before deferral.
SB 13 (aquaculture investment tax credit): The committee voted to pass SB 13 with amendments requested by the Department of Taxation and technical clarifications; the committee also amended the effective date to July 1, 2050. Testimony included support from industry groups (Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, Shrimp Improvement Systems Hawaii) and written comments from the Department of Taxation; Tom Yamachika of the Tax Foundation said the bill contained “blanks in critical areas” that made revenue estimation impossible in its current form. The roll-call in the transcript shows the chair and vice chair voted aye, Senators Rhoads and Auer voted aye, Senator DeCoite was excused (four in favor).
SB 184 (deposit beverage container program): Decision-making on SB 184 was deferred to Monday, Jan. 27 at 1:01 p.m. in CR 224 while the chair gathers additional information. Testimony included concerns about fraud risks called out in State Auditor report 23‑07 and comments about current program logistics; the Department of Health recorded written comments. Testimony included a Department of Human Services representative noting potential negative impacts on licensed blind vendors.
SB 250 (income tax credit for inter‑county transportation of agricultural products): The committee voted to pass SB 250 with Department of Taxation amendments and set the effective date to July 1, 2050. Supporters included the Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council and county chambers of commerce. Testimony cited rising inter‑island transportation costs (one witness noted a 46% increase in 2020) and concerns that removal of existing exemptions on the House side could raise costs further.
Votes and recorded tallies in the transcript show that measures SB 13 and SB 250 were advanced by the committee (four votes in favor, one excused), SB 10 was deferred indefinitely and SB 184 was deferred to Jan. 27 for additional information.
