Bill > SB719

This bill establishes a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Fee Program in Hawaii, effective July 1, 2026, that imposes a two-cent-per-fluid-ounce fee on distributors selling sugar-sweetened beverages in the state. The fee will be passed through to consumers and aims to reduce sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, address obesity and chronic disease, and generate revenue to support public health initiatives. Distributors must register with the Department of Health and will be required to pay the fee and maintain detailed records. The bill creates two new funds: the Healthy Ohana Special Fund, which will receive the fee revenues, and the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund, a nonprofit fund that will support prevention and control of obesity and chronic diseases. The program includes provisions for exemptions (such as beverages sold outside the state), civil penalties for non-compliance, and mandatory annual reporting. The legislation also establishes an advisory committee to provide guidance on the trust fund and requires independent evaluations of the program's impact on beverage consumption and health outcomes. The bill acknowledges Hawaii's high rates of chronic disease, particularly among Pacific Islander, Filipino, and Native Hawaiian populations, and seeks to address health disparities through this targeted intervention.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=719&year=2026