Abandoned Shopping Cart Penalties

At a glance

What: Bill 53 (2026), relating to shopping carts, imposes penalties for taking or abandoning shopping carts; members discussed fines, possible incarceration and forfeiture of carts to the city. A proposed CD1 was posted for the Public Safety & Economy Committee meeting of October 22, 2026 (agenda: https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/agenda/browse/748).
Where it stands: passed first reading August 12, 2026, 8-0, with Cordero, Kiaʻāina and Tupola voting aye with reservations (Dos Santos-Tam absent). The October 22 committee meeting is covered by 2026-10-22 - Public Safety & Economy.
Update: on October 22 the Public Safety & Economy Committee amended the bill to a handcarried CD1 (petty misdemeanor, affirmative defense for owner's written authorization) and reported it out 3-1 (Kiaʻāina no) for second reading and a public hearing; opponents (ACLU, harm-reduction and advocacy groups) urged lockers and retailer accountability instead.
Next: second reading and a public hearing.

Waters said some communities have hundreds of abandoned carts, the cost of recovering and replacing them is passed on to consumers, and members who dislike the approach should offer an alternative.
Tupola objected to forfeiting carts to the city and to fines or jail time falling on people experiencing homelessness. Kiaʻāina found the penalties overly punitive and suggested technology to keep carts on site. Cordero said seniors on fixed incomes in her district use carts to carry groceries.
Testimony: Toma of the Honolulu Police Department, Erdman of Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Garry and Lauren Zirbel of the Hawaii Food Industry Association supported; Iwasa opposed; Billionaire gave general comment.

City Council journal (minutes), regular meeting of August 12, 2026 (adopted October 7, 2026): https://hnldoc.ehawaii.gov/hnldoc/document-download?id=29151

2026-10-22 - 2026-10-22 - Public Safety & Economy: committee adopted the CD1 and advanced the bill 3-1 after heavy testimony on both sides.

First reading passed 8-0 with three members voting aye with reservations.

2026-10-22 - Page created from a posted agenda for the October 22 committee meeting.
2026-10-27 - 2026-10-22 - Public Safety & Economy: official written summary confirms the CD1 was reported out for second reading 3-1 (ayes Nishimoto, Okimoto, Tulba; no Kiaʻāina; Tupola absent) after eight people testified; a public hearing is to be scheduled.