Rep. Kim Coco Iwamoto

Establishes the sugar-sweetened beverage fee program. Beginning 7/1/2027, imposes a 2 cent per fluid ounce fee on all sugar-sweetened beverages sold in the State and requires all distributors of sugar-sweetened beverages to register with the Department of Health. On or after 6/30/27, prohibits retailers from selling or displaying for sale any sugar-sweetened beverage acquired from a distributor that is not registered with the Department of Health. Requires management and performance audits. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Advisory Committee. Appropriates funds.

Designates pricing practices based on surveillance data as unfair or deceptive acts or practices and unfair methods of competition in the conduct of any trade or commerce.

Authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action in the name of the people of the State as parens patriae against any responsible party to recover certain costs or obtain certain relief, including costs and losses incurred by the Hawaii Property Insurance Association, Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or other state entities, resulting from climate attributable harm or costs for risk of future climate attributable harm. Authorizes the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, or any private insurer licensed in the State to bring a civil cause of action against a responsible party to recover its costs and losses resulting from climate attributable harm.

Part I: Effective 1/1/2027, requires corporations to include in their income the income of all foreign subsidiaries to the State; applies the State's apportionment formula to determine the share of reported profits subject to the appropriate tax, which shall be deposited into the state general fund; and requires corporations to report all profits, losses, revenues, and inter-company transactions made and all taxes paid in other states. Part II: Establishes within DOTAX a Corporate Tax Law Task Force to annually review the State's corporate tax laws and recommend updates to close tax loopholes.

Maddy summaryHB 2176 requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to study how other states regulate price gouging for food products. This bill does not change current law or directly affect consumers, businesses, or other stakeholders - it only directs a research study. The bill is currently in early stages (referred to committees after introduction on January 28, 2026). It focuses solely on gathering information, not implementing new policies.

Maddy summaryHB 1916 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit live-fire training exercises on Hawaii's public trust lands. These lands are held by the state for public use, such as parks, beaches, and conservation areas. The bill would require a change to the state constitution to permanently ban such training, affecting how these lands are managed and used. If passed, this amendment would create a new constitutional restriction on land use, directly impacting state land management decisions. The bill is currently in early stages, having been introduced and passed its first reading on January 26, 2026.

Appropriates moneys to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to facilitate the hiring of necessary staff and the purchase of equipment and professional services on behalf of the public land trust working group.

Maddy summaryHB 1987 requires the Fuel Tank Advisory Committee to hold at least one regular meeting every calendar quarter. The bill also appropriates funding to support the committee's operations. This legislation directly affects the committee members and staff by establishing a minimum meeting schedule and providing financial resources. The key provision is the mandatory quarterly meeting requirement, ensuring regular committee activity without altering fuel tank regulations or affecting the public.

Requires the City and County of Honolulu to transfer to the State the City and County of Honolulu's authority to construct a Makakilo Drive extension. Appropriates moneys.

Provides that for any offense based on misconduct by a public servant, the appliable period of limitations for a criminal prosecution shall not commence until discovery of the offense by law enforcement.