Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB939: Relating to Alcohol.
Status: Failed, April 23, 2026
Defines "low alcohol by volume spirits beverage". Establishes a tax on low alcohol by volume spirits beverages at a rate of $0.85 per wine gallon.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to alcohol.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOL. SECTION 1. Section 244D-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read as follows: ""Low alcohol by volume spirits beverage" means any alcoholic beverage containing no more than seven per cent alcohol by volume. "Low alcohol by volume spirits beverage" includes distilled spirits mixed with other ingredients, including both nonalcohol and alcohol components." SECTION 2. Section 244D-4, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows: "(a) Every person who sells or uses any liquor in the State not taxable under this chapter, in respect of the transaction by which the person or the person's vendor acquired the liquor, shall pay a gallonage tax that is hereby imposed at the following rates for the various liquor categories defined in section 244D-1: HB939 SD2 LRB 25-1764.docx Page 2 H.B. NO. " i On [July 1,--1998, ] July 1, 2025, and thereafter, the tax rate shall (2) $2.12 per wine gallon on sparkling wine; (3) $1.38 per wine gallon on still wine; (4) $0.85 per wine gallon on cooler beverages; (5) $0.93 per wine gallon on beer other than draft beer; [ and] (6) $0.54 per wine gallon on draft beer; and (7) $0.93 per wine gallon on low alcohol by …
Sponsors
- Chris Todd (D, 3) · primary sponsor
- Sean Quinlan (D, 47)
Latest actions
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Matayoshi, Yamashita Co-Chairs; Pierick.
- : Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
- : House Conferee(s) discharged.
- : Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
- : Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
- : Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 5:30 PM; Conference Room 224.
- : Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:50 PM; Conference Room 224.
- : Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 2:30PM in conference room 224.
Votes
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2) (April 8, 2025): 23 yea, 2 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (April 2, 2025): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- CPN: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 19, 2025): 3 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4) (February 28, 2025): 47 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (February 21, 2025): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochra (February 11, 2025): 48 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Alcohol, Counties
Common questions
- What is HB939?
- HB939 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Alcohol.
- What does HB939 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to alcohol.
- What is the status of HB939?
- Failed as of April 23, 2026. Latest action: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 817). (April 23, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB939?
- Chris Todd (D, 3), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB939?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=939&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.