RATIONALE:
Disposable e-cigarettes create a dual crisis of severe environmental pollution and public health risks. Approximately 5 disposable vapes are thrown away every second in the U.S., totaling over 150 million annually. These single-use devices, often used by youth, contain lithium-ion batteries, toxic heavy metals (like lead and nickel), and nicotine, which leach into ecosystems. They are difficult to recycle, frequently thrown in regular trash, and cause fires in waste facilities.
2026 Bills:
TAKE ACTION NOW:
Public hearings are an opportunity for the public to weigh in on bills being considered by lawmakers. Submitting testimony for these hearings is an important way to let lawmakers know your position on these important issues. All you need to do is share why you are in strong support (we have some talking points below to get you started!). Each hearing may have different lawmakers, so you must submit testimony each time there is a new hearing.
How to Submit Testimony
- Log-in /make an account on the Capitol website.
- Go to the bill page for and click on the “Submit Testimony” button.
- Upload or write your testimony in SUPPORT of the bill (It doesn’t need to be long!).
- Please submit testimony by at least 24 hours in before the hearing to ensure your testimony is received on-time and reviewed by the committee members! Late testimony will be accepted until the time of the hearing.
Hearing Information
Bill: HB 2121 HD2 SD1
Position: Strong Support
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 10:15 AM
Committee: Senate Committee on Judiciary
Hearing Information
Bill: SB 2175 SD2 HD1
Position: Strong Support
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Committee: House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce
SAMPLE TESTIMONY:
Disposable e-cigarettes are hazardous to the health of our people and our environment. These devices contain dangerous plastics, toxic chemicals and lithium-ion batteries that leach into our environment. They also contain higher nicotine concentrations than previous generations of e-cigarettes, leading to high addiction rates amongst users. Please pass this bill to help create a safer Hawai‘i for us all.
TALKING POINTS:
- In 2023, Americans discarded 5.7 disposable e-cigarettes every second, adding up to nearly 500,000 per day, resulting in 150 million per year.
- The debris created by disposable e-cigarettes is raising concerns for researchers, noting potential impacts to the water quality and aquatic life due to plastic, metals, batteries, and nicotine.
- Disposable e-cigarettes have higher nicotine concentrations than previous generations of e-cigarettes.
- Disposable e-cigarettes contain non-biodegradable plastic and lithium-ion batteries that leach chemicals and create fire hazards.