Establishes certain disclosure and labelling requirements for food, products, and dietary supplements containing kratom. Prohibits the distribution and sale of kratom products to minors. Imposes civil and criminal penalties for violations. Takes effect 1/1/2025.
Authorizes a 10-year license for one entity to operate online poker and sportsbook betting. Establishes the Hawaiʻi gaming control commission. Imposes wagering tax on gross receipts. Creates the state gaming fund and compulsive gambler assistance program. Allocates 70% of profits received by the State to certain wildfire victims with the percentage decreasing 5% each year.
Establishes a definition for "premium cigar" that is distinct from a "large cigar" and adds a definition for "characterizing flavor" in the Cigarette Tax and Tobacco Tax Law. Excludes premium cigars from percentage excise tax. Establishes an excise tax at a rate of 50 cents per premium cigar.
Authorizes the use of the reduced ignition propensity cigarette program special fund to support the State Fire Council and its programs and activities, including for the hiring of administrative personnel.
Requires any state-funded facility built on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands land to be managed and operated by veterans or a veteran-run organization. Prohibits the co-management of any veterans' facility or state-funded facility utilized for veterans.
Extends the sunset date for the research activites income tax credit. Consolidates the survey and certification requirements. Requires the certification based on the date a complete application is received subject to certain conditions. Clarifies qualified research expenses. Adds a cap for an eligible taxpayer and the taxpayer's related entities.
Focuses the law on its intended scope, installment lenders, and clarifies that the law is not intended to eliminate the ability of lenders to make low interest rate loans under the interest and usury law. Removes the term "consumer loan" to consistently use the defined term "installment loan" in the statute.
Repeals the July 1, 2024, sunset date of section 1 of Act 197, Session Laws of Hawaiʻi 2021, to make permanent the exemption of housing developed by the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands from school impact fees.
Amends the offense of manslaughter to include cases where a person knowingly and unlawfully distributes a dangerous drug in any amount and thereby recklessly causes the death of another person who ingested that drug.
Creates two new commercial driver's license (CDL) restrictions. The "R" restriction is for drivers who pass the skills test on Lanai or Molokai and are limited to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMV) on those islands only. The "Q" restriction is for CDL holders who pass the skills test with a CMV that is 18,000 pounds or less gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
