HB 2256 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT.

Summary

Clarifies that untaxed tobacco products are subject to forfeiture as contraband, without regard to the procedures set forth in Hawaii's asset forfeiture law in the same manner as untaxed cigarettes. Confirms the authority of the Department of Taxation and the Department of the Attorney General to inspect and seize tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices and e-liquids. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 26, 2026 Last action Feb 18, 2026

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What changed between versions

HB2256 → HB2256_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was updated to House Draft 1, which reorganized the legislative findings into a numbered list and split the purpose statement into two distinct points for clarity. The effective date was changed from immediate approval to a future date of July 1, 3000, likely as a placeholder. The description was also shortened to focus on the core actions of clarifying forfeiture rules and confirming inspection authority.

Scope change

The scope of enforcement and forfeiture rules remains substantively the same, but the text was restructured to explicitly separate the clarification of forfeiture procedures from the confirmation of inspection authority.

REQUIREMENT

The legislative findings and purpose were restructured from a single paragraph into a numbered list to improve readability and distinguish between clarifying forfeiture rules and confirming inspection authority.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from 'upon approval' to 'July 1, 3000', indicating a placeholder date rather than immediate implementation.

TECHNICAL

The bill description was condensed to remove specific references to 'Act 62' and 'chapter 712A' in favor of general descriptions of Hawaii's asset forfeiture law.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 466-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Committee

Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 5

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors