HB 939 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO ALCOHOL.

Summary

Defines "low alcohol by volume spirits beverage". Establishes a tax on low alcohol by volume spirits beverages at a rate of $0.93 per wine gallon. Increases small craft producer production limits. Sunsets 12/31/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Apr 25, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB939_SD1 → HB939_SD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill version (SD2) adds a new section to regulate small craft producer pub licenses, expanding their production limits and sales privileges compared to the previous version (SD1). The core alcohol tax definitions and rates remain the same, but new provisions allow small craft producers to manufacture and sell more alcohol under specific conditions.

Scope change

The bill now includes additional regulations for small craft producer pub licensees, expanding their manufacturing and sales capabilities beyond the previous version which only addressed low alcohol beverage definitions and tax rates.

ELIGIBILITY

New Section 3 adds regulations for small craft producer pub licenses, defining production limits for malt beverages, wine, and alcohol that licensees must not exceed during the license year.

REQUIREMENT

Small craft producer pubs can now sell malt beverages, wine, or alcohol manufactured on their premises for consumption on-site, and can sell to consumers for off-premises consumption in growlers and recyclable containers.

Licensees may sell to various other license classes including restaurants, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers under specific conditions imposed by county ordinances.

Small craft producer pubs may conduct manufacturing and sales activities at locations other than their main premises, provided those locations are properly licensed and operate under the same trade name.

Small craft producer pubs may allow minors accompanied by parents or legal guardians on their premises.

DEFINITION

Section 3(r) was added to HRS 281-31 to define small craft producer pub license requirements, including production limits and sales privileges.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:30 PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:50 PM; Conference Room 224.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-22-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 691) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, DeCorte). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-02-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1338) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards.

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-25 10:00AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to CPN, WAM.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 131).

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 421) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kong, Lowen.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to CPC, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors