Bill > HB756

This bill prohibits the sale of flavored nicotine products and nicotine product flavor enhancers in Hawaii starting January 1, 2026, with the goal of reducing youth tobacco and nicotine use. The legislation defines flavored nicotine products as those with distinguishable tastes, odors, or sensations beyond tobacco, including fruit, candy, menthol, and cooling or numbing sensations. Retailers who sell such products will face fines ranging from $100 to $1,000 per offense, and any flavored products found in their possession may be considered contraband and subject to seizure or destruction. The bill also prohibits mislabeling e-liquids as nicotine-free and allows the Department of Health to appoint inspectors to enforce these regulations. Additionally, the legislation creates new full-time equivalent positions to review and process inspections, and appropriates funding to support implementation. The bill is motivated by data showing that flavored tobacco products disproportionately attract youth and people of color, and aims to address what legislators describe as a youth vaping epidemic by following the lead of other states that have enacted similar restrictions.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry, Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=756&year=2026