Bill > SB3319

This bill establishes an affirmative defense for retailers selling manufactured hemp products, meaning they can avoid penalties if they can prove they took reasonable steps to verify a customer's age. Specifically, if a retailer sells a hemp product to someone under 21, they can use the defense if they reasonably relied on a "third-party age-verification service" to confirm the customer was at least 21. A "third-party age-verification service" is defined as an independent company that uses reliable methods, like checking government ID or data sources, to verify a buyer's age. The bill also amends an existing law to include this third-party verification option as a defense for selling tinctures, which are liquid hemp products, to minors. The context for these changes is to ensure compliance with existing laws that restrict the sale of certain hemp products to individuals under 21 years of age.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=3319&year=2026