STAND. COM. REP. NO.  905

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

 

RE:   H.B. No. 441

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

 

Madame:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 441, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CIGARETTE TAXES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to increase the cigarette tax beginning July 1, 2025, and allocate the increase in the cigarette tax revenues into certain special funds.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Hawaiʻi Pacific Health; The Queen's Health Systems; Hawaii Medical Association; and nine individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Kainehe Market; Kilani Market; Bionic Petroleum; China Town Liquor; Cigar Association of America, Inc.; Marukin Market; Retail Merchants of Hawaii; Discount Smoke Shop Hawaii; KCL Aloha Pacific Inc.; No. 1 Store; S&K Wholesale; Wawa Village Market; Young's Wine and Spirit; Hawaii Smokers Alliance; and four individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Department of Taxation; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hina Mauka; Hawaii COPD Coalition; Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund; Tax Foundation; Tax Foundation of Hawaii; Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaiʻi; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Taxpayers Protection Alliance; Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center; and eight individuals.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 441, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair