HB 598 Summary

• Establishes the offense of unlawful shipment of tobacco products, with class C felony penalties for shipments valued at $10,000 or more and misdemeanor penalties for lower-value shipments.

• Increases the wholesaler/dealer license fee for cigarettes and tobacco products from $2.50 to $250, and increases the retail tobacco permit fee from $20 to $300.

• Allocates $750,000 annually beginning July 1, 2021, from tobacco excise tax revenues to the Hawaii tobacco prevention and control trust fund to support youth health education programs about electronic smoking device risks.

• Expands the definition of "tobacco products" to explicitly include electronic smoking devices, components, and e-liquids, while excluding FDA-approved drugs and devices.

• Repeals Chapter 28, part XII and Section 245-17 of Hawaii Revised Statutes relating to electronic smoking device delivery sales regulations.