SB 1043 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 1043 reduces the general excise tax rate on nonprescription drugs by 50%. This change directly affects consumers who purchase nonprescription medications, lowering their out-of-pocket costs. The bill's key provision is halving the existing tax rate, effective July 1, 3000. It does not alter other tax rates or create new government programs. The bill passed a committee recommendation with four supportive votes in February 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1043_SD1 → SB1043_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from Session 1 to Session 2, changing the legislative session designation from S.D. 1 to S.D. 2 and updating associated metadata like dates and bill numbers. The core policy regarding tax exemptions for groceries and nonprescription drugs remains substantively unchanged, though minor formatting adjustments were made to the text.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain the same; it continues to exempt groceries and nonprescription drugs from general excise tax.

TECHNICAL

Updated the legislative session identifier from S.D. 1 to S.D. 2 to reflect the current session.

Adjusted metadata fields including bill numbers, revision counts, and timestamps to reflect the new version.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the text of the grocery and drug exemption sections.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Practitioner' to clarify who is authorized to prescribe prescription drugs.

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

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1379) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Todd, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Holt.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 246) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 27, 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

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 525) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Ihara, Moriwaki, 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 recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/LBT, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor