The following testimony was submitted by the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii for consideration by the Hawaii Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on Feb. 24, 2021.
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To: Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection
Sen. Rosalyn H. Baker, Chair
Sen. Stanley Chang, Vice Chair
From: Joe Kent
Executive Vice President
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
RE: SB348 — RELATING TO BOTTLED WATER
Comments Only
Dear Chair and Committee Members:
The Grassroot Institute of Hawaii would like to offer its comments on SB348, which would repeal the requirement that noncarbonated bottled water be transported, stored, processed, or bottled through lines or equipment through which only water is passed.
We commend the Legislature for examining ways in which to reduce unnecessary regulation and provide new opportunities for local businesses.
In “Road map to prosperity,” our report on strategies to rebuild the state’s economy following the COVID-19 emergency and lockdowns, we emphasized the importance of implementing regulatory reforms that would help local businesses innovate, explore different products and services and reach new customers. We also suggested soliciting feedback from local businesses so as to better understand what reforms would be most useful in our current economy.
The reforms envisioned in this bill are exactly the kind of change that we recommend in that report. Testimony from local businesses suggests that this bill will allow them to expand into new products. In addition, any concerns about public health and safety are addressed by the adherence to FDA standards.
In short, SB348 would be a good step towards encouraging economic growth and helping local business.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit our comments.
Sincerely,
Joe Kent
Executive Vice President
Grassroot Institute of Hawaii
