SB 1528 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO CIGARETTE TAXES.

Summary

Beginning 1/1/2026, increases the cigarette tax from sixteen cents to eighteen cents and amends the disposition of cigarette tax revenues by allocating the increase in the cigarette tax amount to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Feb 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1528 → SB1528_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amends Hawaii's cigarette tax law to increase the tax from 16 cents to 18 cents per cigarette effective January 1, 2026. The additional revenue from this tax increase will be directed to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund to support cancer research and operations at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. The bill also updates the allocation formulas for cigarette tax revenues across various health-related special funds, adjusting the percentages and dollar caps for trauma, emergency medical services, and community health centers.

Scope change

The bill expands the cigarette tax rate and modifies how the additional revenue is distributed among health-related special funds, with the primary change being the allocation of the tax increase specifically to cancer research funding.

FISCAL

Increased cigarette tax from 16 cents to 18 cents per cigarette effective January 1, 2026

Directs the increase in cigarette tax revenue to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund to support cancer research and operations

Updated allocation percentages and dollar caps for trauma system, emergency medical services, and community health centers special funds

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from December 31, 2050 to January 1, 2026 for the tax increase

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 615) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-25 1:30PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/HRE, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors