STAND. COM. REP. NO.  903

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2021

 

RE:   H.B. No. 476

      H.D. 3

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 476, H.D. 2, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Impose a fifty percent tax on the wholesale price for each modified risk tobacco product sold, used, or possessed by a wholesaler;

    

     (2)  Impose an excise tax on the sale of each e-liquid cartridge or unit of open system e-liquid sold, used, or possessed by a wholesaler or dealer and require reports regarding e-liquid cartridges or units of open system e‑liquid; and

 

     (3)  Require wholesalers and dealers of e-liquids to obtain licenses and permits.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, Namaste Vapors, Hawaii Smokers Alliance, Smoke-Free Alternatives Trade Association, VOLCANO Vape Shops, Americans for Tax Reform, and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Taxation, Department of Health, American Heart Association, Hawaii State Teachers Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, AlohaCare, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Lung Association in Hawaii, and five individuals.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Providing that the excise tax for every wholesaler shall be equal to fifty percent of the applicable cigarette tax or tobacco products tax for each modified risk tobacco product sold, used, or possessed by a wholesaler; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 476, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 476, H.D. 3.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair