SB 1528 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CIGARETTE TAXES.

Summary

Beginning 1/1/2026, increases the cigarette tax from sixteen cents to eighteen 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. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1528 → SB1528_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the effective dates for increased cigarette taxes and changes the final date the tax revenue is allocated to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund. It also corrects formatting and metadata errors in the bill text.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding tax rates remains the same, but the dates when those rates and fund allocations begin and end have been shifted forward by approximately one year.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the increase in cigarette tax rates was changed from July 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026.

The deadline for allocating tax revenue to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund was extended from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2050.

The date range for specific tax allocation rules in Section 245-3(a)(11) was updated to reflect the new 2026 start date.

The date range for specific tax allocation rules in Section 245-3(a)(12) was updated to reflect the new 2026 start date.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting corrections were made to the bill header, title, and metadata fields.

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

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/HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 615) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Feb 12, 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

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-25 1:30PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS/HRE, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors