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Hawaii · 2025 Regular Session · Bill

SB 719: RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 719 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 17, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGES. Primary sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Stanley Chang (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (January 23, 2025): Referred to HHS, WAM/JDC.

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.

Establishes a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Fee Program to be administered by the Department of Health that, beginning 7/1/2026, imposes a fee on the distribution and sale of sugar-sweetened beverages in the State. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Special Fund into which revenues generated from the sugar-sweetened beverage fee are deposited. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund in the private sector to receive revenues from the Healthy Ohana Special Fund to support prevention and control of obesity and chronic diseases. Allows the Department to contract with a third party to administer the program. Requires the Auditor to conduct a management and financial audit of the program and submit reports to the Legislature. Establishes the Healthy Ohana Trust Fund Advisory Committee to advise the Department on the administration of the trust fund. Requires the Department to adopt interim rules no later than 6/30/2026, and final rules no later than 12/31/2027. Establishes civil penalties. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 2

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Karl RhoadsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Referred to HHS, WAM/JDC.
  2. Passed First Reading.
  3. Introduced.

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source