Hawaii · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
SB 1278: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX.
Passed one chamber Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 1278 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 21, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX. Primary sponsor: AQUINO, Kurt Fevella (Republican), KIDANI, Glenn Wakai (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (March 18, 2025): Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1343) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Exempts from the state general excise tax any grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund by an eligible business pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Requires the Department of Taxation to notify all taxpayers eligible for refunds of any state general excise tax paid for grants received from the federal Restaurant Revitalization Fund of their eligibility and requires taxpayers to file refund claims no later than six months following notification. Requires any state general excise taxes paid by eligible businesses for Restaurant Revitalization Fund grants to be refunded to the taxpayer. Effective 7/1/3000. Applies retroactively to 3/11/2021. (HD1)
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 3 · Republican 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQUINO | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Kurt Fevella | Primary sponsor | Republican | Senate | 20 |
| KIDANI | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Glenn Wakai | Primary sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 15 |
| Joy San Buenaventura | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 2 |
| Sharon Moriwaki | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 12 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1343) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
- The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Tam, Templo, Todd, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Holt.
- Bill scheduled to be heard by ECD on Wednesday, 03-12-25 10:00AM in House conference room 423 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Referred to ECD, FIN, referral sheet 18
- Pass First Reading
- Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
- Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 32) in amended form (SD 1).
- Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 676) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
- Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).
- 48 Hrs. Notice 02-27-25.
- The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Showing 12 most recent of 16 actions. Full history