Bill > HB578

This bill establishes enhanced penalties for liquor law violations in counties with a population of 500,000 or more, creating a progressive disciplinary system for repeated infractions by licensees. Specifically, for a second violation within 12 months, licensees will face a fine between $2,000 and $4,000; for a third violation, the fine increases to between $4,000 and $8,000; a fourth violation will result in a one-month license suspension; and a fifth violation will lead to complete license revocation. The bill amends several sections of Hawaii's liquor laws, including provisions related to tampering with samples, refusing to provide samples, obstructing liquor commission operations, and other general liquor law violations. These new penalties apply to multiple violations of the same section or rule within a 12-month period and are intended to be additional to any existing penalties, not replacing them. The changes are specifically targeted at larger counties (those with over 500,000 residents) and aim to create a more stringent enforcement mechanism for repeated liquor law violations by establishing a clear escalating punishment structure.

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https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=578&year=2026