Clarifies that untaxed tobacco products are subject to forfeiture as contraband, without regard to the procedures set forth in Hawaii's asset forfeiture law in the same manner as untaxed cigarettes. Confirms the authorit
Introduced
Moved
Reached a final decision
Became law
Derived from the official record below.
Officially: “RELATING TO TOBACCO ENFORCEMENT.” Read the full text
2025-2026 biennium
What it does
Clarifies that untaxed tobacco products are subject to forfeiture as contraband, without regard to the procedures set forth in Hawaii's asset forfeiture law in the same manner as untaxed cigarettes. Confirms the authority of the Department of Taxation and the Department of the Attorney General to inspect and seize tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices and e-liquids. Effective 9/1/2026. (CD1)
From the official legislative record, shown verbatim. Not legal advice.
Where it is
Show all 53 actions
Pending Introduction. · Jan 26, 2026
Introduced. · Jan 28, 2026
Passed First Reading. · Jan 28, 2026
Referred to JDC, WAM. · Jan 30, 2026
The committee(s) on JDC has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-26 9:15AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. · Feb 5, 2026
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with rese · Feb 10, 2026
Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2286) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. · Feb 17, 2026
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. · Feb 17, 2026
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. · Feb 23, 2026
The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference. · Feb 27, 2026
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, K · Mar 2, 2026
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2728) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. · Mar 5, 2026
One Day Notice 03-06-26. · Mar 5, 2026
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. · Mar 6, 2026
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 103) in amended form (SD 1). · Mar 6, 2026
Pass First Reading · Mar 10, 2026
Referred to JHA, FIN, referral sheet 16 · Mar 10, 2026
Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Tuesday, 03-17-26 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. · Mar 12, 2026
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Cochran, Hashem, Kahaloa, Sayama, Takayama, G · Mar 17, 2026
Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1407-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. · Mar 25, 2026
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Matsumoto, Perruso excused (2). · Mar 25, 2026
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. · Mar 31, 2026
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26. · Apr 2, 2026
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. · Apr 2, 2026
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kus · Apr 7, 2026
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2159-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. · Apr 10, 2026
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26. · Apr 10, 2026
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. · Apr 14, 2026
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 739). · Apr 16, 2026
Senate disagrees with House amendments. · Apr 16, 2026
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710). · Apr 16, 2026
House Conferees Appointed: Tarnas, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Poepoe, Garcia. · Apr 21, 2026
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800). · Apr 21, 2026
Senate Conferees Appointed: Rhoads Chair; Elefante Co-Chair; Awa. · Apr 21, 2026
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718). · Apr 21, 2026
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-26 2:35PM; Conference Room 325. · Apr 22, 2026
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-26 3:10PM; Conference Room 325. · Apr 23, 2026
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 2:00PM in conference room 325. · Apr 24, 2026
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 2:00PM in conference room 325. · Apr 27, 2026
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 2:00PM; CR 325. · Apr 28, 2026
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Elefante, Awa; Aye(s) with re · Apr 29, 2026
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Hartsfield, Poepoe, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; · Apr 30, 2026
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 104-26). · May 1, 2026
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26. · May 1, 2026
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 104-26) as amended in (CD 1). · May 1, 2026
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26. · May 1, 2026
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. · May 6, 2026
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Kong voting no (1) and none excused (0). · May 6, 2026
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816). · May 6, 2026
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888). · May 8, 2026
Enrolled to Governor. · May 8, 2026
Act 229, 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1331). · Jul 10, 2026
Act 229, on 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1331). · Jul 10, 2026
The numbers
1
sponsor on the bill
Sponsors
KOUCHI (Introduced by request of another party)
Recorded votes
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1).Senate · 2026-05-06 · Ayes 25, Aye(s) with reservations 0
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with noneHouse · 2026-05-06 · Aye(s) with reservations 0, Noes 1, Excused 0
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows:House · 2026-04-30 · Ayes 4, Ayes with reservations 0, Noes 0, Excused 0
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows:Senate · 2026-04-29 · Aye(s) 3, Aye(s) with reservations 0, No(es) 0, Excused 0
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with noneHouse · 2026-04-14 · Aye(s) with reservations 0, Noes 0, Excused 0
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows:House · 2026-04-07 · Ayes 15, Ayes with reservations 0, Noes 0, Excused 1
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with noneHouse · 2026-03-25 · Aye(s) with reservations 0, Noes 0, Excused 2
The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows:House · 2026-03-17 · Ayes 10, Ayes with reservations 0, Noes 0, Excused 0
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading.Senate · 2026-03-06 · Ayes 24, Aye(s) with reservations 0, Noes 0, Excused 1
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows:Senate · 2026-03-02 · Aye(s) 13, Aye(s) with reservations 0, No(es) 0, Excused 0
The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows:Senate · 2026-02-10 · Aye(s) 5, Aye(s) with reservations 0, No(es) 0, Excused 0
Roll-call results shown verbatim from the Hawaii legislature’s records. A result reflects that roll call’s own motion, not the bill’s overall outcome.
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record. Last action: Act 229, on 07/10/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1331). (Jul 10, 2026).