HB 441 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO CIGARETTE TAXES.

Summary

Beginning 1/1/2026, increases the cigarette tax from 16 cents to 18 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, with a portion to be used exclusively for debt service of capital expenditures and building maintenance. Effective 12/31/2025. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Sub-Topics: Debt & Bonds

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Signed May 27, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 5 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB441_SD1 → HB441_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill increases the cigarette tax from 16 cents to 18 cents per cigarette effective January 1, 2026. The additional 2 cents per cigarette will be directed to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund to help pay for debt service on bonds used to build and maintain the cancer research center. The bill also updates the allocation of cigarette tax revenues to various health-related special funds for different time periods.

FISCAL

The cigarette tax rate is increased from 16 cents to 18 cents per cigarette, effective January 1, 2026.

The additional 2 cents per cigarette tax will be allocated to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund to support debt service for capital expenditures and building maintenance until June 30, 2041.

The allocation of cigarette tax revenue to various health funds (cancer research, trauma system, community health centers, and emergency medical services) is updated with new amounts and time periods through 2026 and beyond.

TIMELINE

The bill includes a sunset provision stating it will take effect on December 31, 2050.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

25–0

Passed

Total votes 25

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic22

22 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican3

3 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Kong voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 257).

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 257) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Garrett, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kim, Kanuha, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:20 PM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 3:15PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-24-25 3:16PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 638) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Apr 8, 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

Mar 31, 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 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-31-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS/HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1276) 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 HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Kidani; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Mar 19, 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

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 03-19-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/HRE, WAM.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 105).

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Kong voting no (1) 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: 12 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Holt, Lee, M., Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Sayama, Ward excused (3).

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 470) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Muraoka.

lower

Jan 31, 2025

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 27) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.

lower

Jan 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, HED, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors