HB 939 Hawaii House · 2026 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 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB939_SD1 → HB939_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill version updates the legislative metadata to reflect a new sponsor and revised dates, while significantly expanding the scope of the Small Craft Producer Pub license. The most important change is the removal of previous production limits for malt beverages, wine, and alcohol, allowing these licensed producers to manufacture and sell larger quantities. Additionally, the repeal section was updated to ensure the old statutory definitions are properly reenacted alongside the new changes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from merely defining low-alcohol beverages to actively increasing production limits for small craft producer pubs, allowing them to manufacture and sell significantly more malt beverages, wine, and alcohol than previously permitted.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed specific production caps for malt beverages, wine, and alcohol under the Small Craft Producer Pub license, effectively removing previous quantity restrictions.

DEFINITION

Updated the repeal and reenactment clauses to include the new Section 281-31(r) regarding small craft producer pub licenses.

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill sponsor name from Jane Lee to Joseph Brown and updated associated metadata dates.

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

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

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