HB2 • 2026

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: ILAGAN
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on the application of the bill to both issuance and renewal near schools or parks, only mentioning renewal of current liquor licenses upon receipt of sufficient protests.

Rules for Liquor License Renewals

This bill changes the rules to allow licensing agencies to deny renewal of certain liquor licenses if they receive sufficient protests.

What This Bill Does

Changes a law to allow protests against renewing certain liquor licenses.
Requires licensing agencies in each county to deny license renewals based on sufficient protests.

Who It Names or Affects

People who want to protest liquor licenses
Liquor establishments seeking renewal of their licenses
Local licensing agencies responsible for approving liquor licenses

Terms To Know

Protest: A formal objection or complaint against something, in this case a liquor license.
Liquor Commission: An agency that oversees the issuing and renewal of licenses for businesses selling alcohol.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what 'sufficient protests' means.
It is unclear how this will affect existing liquor establishments near schools or parks.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to CPC, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-08 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LIQUOR LICENSES.
Liquor Licenses; Renewal; Protest; Denial
Provides that the Liquor Commission or other licensing agency of each county shall deny the renewal of certain current liquor licenses upon receipt of sufficient protests.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO LIQUOR LICENSES
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that patrons leaving a liquor establishment can adversely
affect neighboring residents and users of nearby public facilities.
�
The legislature enacted section 281-39.5,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, which allows for the denial or restriction of liquor
licenses for certain establishments near schools or parks, to promote an
environment in which alcohol imbibing patrons do not interfere with minors or
other residents.
�
The legislature further
finds that section 281-39.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, currently applies
only to the issuance of new liquor licenses, but not the renewal of current
licenses, thus creating a safe harbor for existing establishments seeking a
renewal of their liquor license.
�

Although registered voters within five hundred feet of a liquor
establishment may not be inclined to protest the initial issuance of a liquor
license, they may wish to do so when the license becomes subject to renewal and
they have learned more about the establishment.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
provide communities the opportunity to protest the renewal of certain liquor
licenses.

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 281-39.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

����
"(b)
�

This section shall apply [
only
] to
both
the issuance of
new liquor licenses
, and the renewal of existing liquor licenses,
for
on-site sale and consumption by the drink [
and not to any renewal of such
licenses
]."

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that
were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

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SECTION 4.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 5.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Liquor
Licenses; Renewal; Protest; Denial

Description:

Provides
that the Liquor Commission or other licensing agency of each county shall deny
the renewal of certain current liquor licenses upon receipt of sufficient
protests.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.