---
type: "Bill"
title: "RELATING TO HEALTH."
description: "Establishes the offense of unlawful shipment of tobacco products. Includes electronic smoking devices and e-liquids under the definition of \"tobacco products\" for purposes of the cigarette tax and tobacco tax law. Amends the license and permit fees for wholesalers, dealers, and retailers. Beginning 1/1/2024, imposes an excise tax on each electronic smoking device or e-liquid sold, used, or possessed by a wholesaler or dealer. Repeals the electronic smoking device retailer registration unit under the department of the attorney general. Repeals provisions governing delivery sales. (CD1)"
jurisdiction: "us/states/hi"
legislature: "Hawaii Legislature"
session: "2023 Regular Session"
identifier: "SB 975"
citation: "Hawaii SB 975 (2023 Regular Session)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["E-Liquids", "Electronic Smoking Devices", "License Fees", "Penalties", "Permit Fees", "Tax", "Tobacco Products", "Unlawful Shipment of Tobacco Products"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["CHANG", "KEOHOKALOLE", "RHOADS", "SHIMABUKURO"]
version_count: 7
action_count: 54
vote_count: 9
first_action: "2023-01-20"
last_action: "2023-06-06"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/900810e0-b736-406c-acd6-de3a8a83bddc"
source_url: "https://capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=975&year=2023"
source_hash: "516cd2e6f88befefd9bf0bcffb3204fd8224acf6b02317fe82b91ed946cca19d"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-hi"]
---

# Hawaii SB 975 (2023 Regular Session) — RELATING TO HEALTH.

Establishes the offense of unlawful shipment of tobacco products. Includes electronic smoking devices and e-liquids under the definition of "tobacco products" for purposes of the cigarette tax and tobacco tax law. Amends the license and permit fees for wholesalers, dealers, and retailers. Beginning 1/1/2024, imposes an excise tax on each electronic smoking device or e-liquid sold, used, or possessed by a wholesaler or dealer. Repeals the electronic smoking device retailer registration unit under the department of the attorney general. Repeals provisions governing delivery sales. (CD1)

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **SB975** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/SB975_.HTM)
2. **SB975_CD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/SB975_CD1_.HTM)
3. **SB975_HD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/SB975_HD1_.HTM)
4. **SB975_HD2** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/SB975_HD2_.HTM)
5. **SB975_HD3** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/SB975_HD3_.HTM)
6. **SB975_SD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/SB975_SD1_.HTM)
7. **SB975_SD2** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2023/bills/SB975_SD2_.HTM)

## Votes

- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **5–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **5–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **14–0** (pass) · lower
- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. — **5–0** (pass) · lower
- The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **7–0** (pass) · lower
- The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **12–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **8–0** (pass) · lower
- The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **4–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **5–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- CHANG — primary (person)
- KEOHOKALOLE — primary (person)
- RHOADS — primary (person)
- SHIMABUKURO — primary (person)
- Awa — cosponsor (person)
- Elefante — cosponsor (person)
- Kidani — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2023-06-06** Act 062, 06/06/2023 (Gov. Msg. No. 1162). `became-law`
- **2023-06-06** Act 062, on 06/06/2023 (Gov. Msg. No. 1162). `became-law`
- **2023-05-05** Enrolled to Governor. `executive-receipt`
- **2023-05-04** Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 901). `receipt`
- **2023-05-04** Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 996). `receipt`
- **2023-05-04** Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Lowen, Martinez excused (2). `passage`
- **2023-05-04** Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1) Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). `passage`
- **2023-05-02** Forty-eight (48) hours notice Thursday, 05-04-23.
- **2023-05-02** Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 196) as amended in (CD 1).
- **2023-05-02** 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-04-23.
- **2023-05-02** Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 196).
- **2023-04-28** The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Tarnas, Yamashita, La Chica, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
- **2023-04-28** The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Keohokalole, Aquino, Rhoads, Shimabukuro; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-04-28** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-28-23 4:30PM in conference room 309.
- **2023-04-27** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-28-23 2:30PM in conference room 329.
- **2023-04-25** Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-27-23 2:30PM in conference room 329.
- **2023-04-24** Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-25-23 3:30PM in conference room 329.
- **2023-04-24** Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 840). `receipt`
- **2023-04-21** House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Tarnas, Yamashita Co-Chairs; La Chica, Garcia.
- **2023-04-19** Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 911). `receipt`
- **2023-04-19** Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Keohokalole, Aquino, Rhoads Co-Chairs; Shimabukuro.
- **2023-04-13** Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 888). `receipt`
- **2023-04-13** Senate disagrees with House amendments. `amendment-failure`
- **2023-04-13** Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 763). `introduction, receipt`
- **2023-04-11** Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Todd excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. `passage`
- **2023-04-06** Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-11-23.
- **2023-04-06** Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2087) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading.
- **2023-04-04** The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Kitagawa, Aiu, Chun, Cochran, Garrett, Kahaloa, Kila, Kobayashi, Lamosao, Morikawa, Poepoe, Takenouchi, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Nishimoto, Ward. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-03-31** Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-04-23 3:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- **2023-03-24** Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ilagan excused (1).
- **2023-03-24** Reported from JHA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1572) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
- **2023-03-22** The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Takayama, Ganaden, Hashimoto, Ichiyama, Ilagan, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Kong; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Holt, Mizuno. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-03-20** Bill scheduled to be heard by JHA on Wednesday, 03-22-23 2:00PM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- **2023-03-17** Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). `reading-2, referral-committee`
- **2023-03-17** Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1303) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
- **2023-03-15** The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Takenouchi, Amato, Ilagan, Mizuno, Nishimoto, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kobayashi. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-03-13** Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 03-15-23 9:45AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- **2023-03-09** Referred to HLT, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 17 `referral-committee`
- **2023-03-09** Pass First Reading `reading-1`
- **2023-03-07** Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 326) in amended form (SD 2). `introduction, receipt`
- **2023-03-07** Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Fukunaga). Transmitted to House. `passage`
- **2023-03-03** 48 Hrs. Notice 03-07-23.
- **2023-03-03** Reported from WAM/JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1088) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- **2023-03-03** The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Keith-Agaran, Aquino, DeCoite, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, Moriwaki, Shimabukuro, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-03-03** 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, Elefante, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-02-28** The committee(s) on WAM/JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-03-23 10:00AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- **2023-02-17** Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM/JDC. `reading-2, referral-committee`
- **2023-02-17** Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 564) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM/JDC.
- **2023-02-15** The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Shimabukuro, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-02-15** The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Richards ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2023-02-10** The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-15-23 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
- **2023-01-27** Referred to HHS/CPN, WAM/JDC. `referral-committee`
- **2023-01-23** Passed First Reading. `reading-1`
- **2023-01-20** Introduced. `introduction`

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/900810e0-b736-406c-acd6-de3a8a83bddc`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Hawaii legislature records).