2026 Mid-Session Policy Update

We have reached the halfway point in Hawai‘i’s 2026 legislative session. In early March, bills that successfully passed their assigned committees and three floor readings in one chamber “crossed over” to the other chamber, where they will undergo additional public hearings and consideration. While some public health priorities identified in HIPHI’s 2026 Public Health Agenda missed key deadlines this year, several proposals that support healthier communities across the islands are continuing to move forward.

Tobacco Prevention & Control

Ending youth nicotine addiction and strengthening tobacco control policies continue to be key priorities for the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawai‘i (CTFH). This session, the coalition is supporting several proposals aimed at addressing the youth vaping epidemic and improving oversight of tobacco products.

One proposal, HB 1563, would restore the authority of Hawai‘i’s counties to adopt stronger local regulations on the sale of tobacco products, including flavored products. Restoring local control would empower counties to implement already-adopted policies to ban flavored tobacco products, which Honolulu, Maui, and Hawai‘i counties have already passed. 

Additionally, HB 2121 and SB 2175 would prohibit the sale of disposable electronic smoking devices. Over 1,000 e-cigarettes containing lithium-ion batteries, carcinogens, plastics, and toxic lead are discarded each day in Hawai‘i, posing significant environmental and health risks. By removing disposable e-cigarettes from store shelves, we can safeguard both our keiki’s health and our environment.

CTFH is also supporting HB 1573, which would prohibit the sale in Hawai‘i of any e-cigarette products that are federally banned by the FDA. If passed, the bill would remove all but 39 products from our islands, including all fruit and candy flavored e-cigarettes.

Healthy Eating + Active Living

One of the statewide Healthy Eating + Active Living (HEAL) Coalition’s top priorities this year was to expand free public transportation access to all keiki statewide. This would encourage a more active lifestyle for our youth by giving them greater freedom to access opportunities across their island, while reducing transportation costs for local families. Although efforts to enact this plan, HB 1879 and SB 2699, did not make it past the crossover deadline, we made significant progress in our first year of advocating for this policy, gaining support from numerous allied organizations, youth groups, and the Department of Transportation.

Another top HEAL priority was to enact a fee on sugary beverages to limit the many medical risks that come with their consumption and generate over $66 million for programs that improve the health and well-being of our residents. HB 2146 and SB 2458 would have implemented this initiative, but neither bill made it beyond crossover this year.

While several of the HEAL Coalition’s top legislative priorities did not advance past the crossover deadline this year, these efforts helped raise awareness and build support for policies that promote healthier communities. The coalition continues to advocate for measures that improve food security, strengthen nutrition programs, and support working families facing rising costs of living.

Expanding free meals for public school students is an ongoing concern for the coalition during the current legislative session. Building on Act 139 (2025), which is phasing in free school meals for students in households earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level, lawmakers introduced HB 1779 to move Hawaiʻi toward a universal school meals program. The measure would ultimately provide free breakfast and lunch to all public school students, regardless of income, beginning in the 2029–2030 school year. Extending universal school meals helps reduce food insecurity and ensure that students are well nourished and ready to learn. 

HEAL is also supporting measures to strengthen the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), especially in light of federal actions that could limit SNAP access for economically disadvantaged residents. SB 3245 would streamline enrollment for older adults. Likewise, HB 1518 would allow individuals leaving incarceration to apply for benefits before being released, reducing barriers to food stability during the critical period of reentry. 

The coalition is also supporting measures that boost consumer protections in the food marketplace. HB 2458 would prohibit retailers from using “surveillance pricing” practices that rely on consumer data to charge different customers different prices for the same products. Enacting a paid family leave program, like the one envisioned in HB 2360, to support new parents and caregivers for ill loved ones remains a signature policy for HEAL as well. 

Oral Health

Improving access to preventive dental care remains a primary concern for the Hawai‘i Oral Health Coalition. This session, the coalition is supporting HB 1671, which would allow licensed dental hygienists to place interim therapeutic restorations in public health settings under the general supervision of a licensed dentist. Interim therapeutic restorations are a minimally invasive treatment used to slow or stop the progression of tooth decay.

Expanding the scope of practice for trained dental hygienists can help address workforce shortages and improve access to care in underserved areas. By enabling hygienists to provide early treatment for cavities, the measure would prevent more serious dental disease, reduce the need for costly emergency care, and improve oral health outcomes, particularly for children, kūpuna, and rural communities. 

Alcohol Policy 

The Hawai‘i Alcohol Policy Alliance (HIAPA) is supporting proposals aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm. One measure, HB 1991, would update Hawai‘i’s liquor tax structure to better reflect the strength of alcoholic beverages, while accounting for decades of inflation. Excessive alcohol use costs Hawai‘i approximately $1 billion each year. Yet, the state’s liquor tax has not been adjusted for inflation since 1998, eroding both its public health impact and its value as a revenue source. Increasing alcohol taxes reduces excessive consumption and generates resources that benefit the broader economy. Raising the tax by just $0.10 per drink could generate an estimated $60 million in revenue annually. 

HIAPA is also supporting SB 2463, which would lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for operating a vehicle from 0.08 to 0.05. Research shows that driving ability is significantly impaired below the current legal limit, and lowering BAC thresholds is associated with reductions in alcohol-related crashes and fatalities. Hawai‘i has one of the highest proportions of traffic deaths involving impaired driving in the nation, underscoring the importance of implementing policies that can help prevent injuries and save lives.

Climate Health and Resilience 

The Climate Change and Health Working Group is focused on uplifting Hawaiʻi’s public health systems in response to the climate crisis. For this year, the group’s top priority, HB 1803, is addressing heat exposure for all school students, which passed the House Education and Finance Committees. The measure would require the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization policy to ensure students engaging in sports and other physical activities are safe from heat-related illnesses by implementing sufficient breaks during athletic practices when temperatures are too high.  

What Happens Next?

Now that the remaining bills have passed through either the House or Senate, they must repeat the process and pass through the opposite chamber by April 16. The two chambers must then reconcile any differences and finalize the language of remaining bills in a conference committee, a special group formed to resolve differences between bill drafts that passed each chamber, before they are put up for a final vote and sent to the governor. 

There is still time to make your voice heard. You can access our bill tracker to view the progress of key measures. You can also sign up for our action alerts to receive hearing notifications and talking points on important bills. Together, we can help ensure that every person in Hawaiʻi has the opportunity to live a healthy life.