HB48 • 2026

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.

Active

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

Sponsor: KAHALOA, KUSCH, LOWEN
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not explicitly mention listing geographic origins of various Hawaii-grown coffees on the product's packaging, only that it must be shown on the label.

Rules for Coffee Labels

This bill clarifies labeling requirements for coffee grown and processed in Hawaii, including definitions for 'geographic origin' and 'regional origin'.

What This Bill Does

Defines what 'regional origin' means when talking about coffee from other places.
Requires labels to show the exact percentage of Hawaiian coffee beans used in blends with non-Hawaiian coffee.
Makes sure that all parts of a coffee label are easy to read and clearly displayed.

Who It Names or Affects

Coffee companies that sell products made from Hawaiian coffee beans
Consumers who buy coffee labeled as being from Hawaii

Terms To Know

Geographic origin: The specific area in Hawaii where the coffee is grown.
Regional origin: Any place outside of Hawaii where coffee beans are grown and processed.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill will not take effect until July 1, 2050.
The exact impact on coffee companies is unclear as it depends on how they currently label their products.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment changes the labeling requirements for coffee products made from Hawaii-grown and processed green coffee beans to ensure clearer distinction between geographic origin and regional origin.

Amends Section 486-120.6 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to require that labels clearly distinguish between 'geographic origin' (Hawaii) and 'regional origin' (other regions).
Updates labeling requirements for coffee blends containing both Hawaiian and foreign-grown beans, requiring specific percentage and origin information.
Ensures all words in identity statements are of the same type size and contiguous.

The amendment text does not specify how the changes will be enforced or what penalties may apply for non-compliance.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment to HB48 clarifies labeling requirements for coffee grown and processed in Hawaii, distinguishing between 'geographic origin' and 'regional origin', and specifies how these terms should be used on product labels.

Amends the title of Section 486-120.6 to include 'Hawaii-processed' along with 'Hawaii-grown'.
Updates subsection (a) to require specific labeling for coffee that is both grown and processed in Hawaii, including details on geographic origin and blend percentages.
Modifies subsection (b) to mandate a list of geographic origins and regional origins on the label, detailing how these should be presented.

The amendment text does not provide clear instructions for implementation before July 1, 3000, which is far in the future.
Some technical details about specific labeling requirements may be too complex to fully explain without additional context.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Amends the title of Section 486-120.6 to include 'Hawaii-processed' along with 'Hawaii-grown'.
Updates subsection (a) to require specific labeling for coffee that is both grown and processed in Hawaii, including details on geographic origin and blend percentages.
Modifies subsection (b) to mandate a list of geographic origins and regional origins on the label, detailing how these should be presented.

The amendment text does not provide specific examples or further clarification for implementation beyond what is stated in the bill.

Bill History

2026-04-02 S
Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2026-04-01 H
House Conferee(s) discharged.
2026-03-20 H
Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
2026-03-20 S
Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-04-22 H
Received notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 864).
2025-04-22 S
Senate Conferees Changed: Senator Keohokalole discharged as Co-Chair. Senator Richards discharged as Member; Added as Co-Chair.
2025-04-15 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 790).
2025-04-15 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Gabbard Chair; Keohokalole Co-Chair; Richards, Awa.
2025-04-15 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).
2025-04-14 H
House Conferees Appointed: Kahaloa, Matayoshi Co-Chairs; Kusch, Perruso, Pierick.
2025-04-10 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 621).
2025-04-08 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2025-04-04 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 566) in amended form (SD 1).
2025-04-04 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-04-03 S
One Day Notice 04-04-25.
2025-04-03 S
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1641) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2025-03-27 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey, Richards.
2025-03-21 S
The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 03-27-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2025-03-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN.
2025-03-19 S
Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1166) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
2025-03-17 S
The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, DeCoite, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-03-14 S
The committee(s) on AEN deferred the measure until 03-17-25 1:02PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-11 S
The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2025-03-06 S
Referred to AEN, CPN.
2025-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 181).
2025-03-04 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2025-02-28 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1049) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2025-02-20 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Lowen, Pierick.
2025-02-18 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 02-20-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-14 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 641) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2025-02-12 H
The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Wednesday, 02-12-25 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to AGR, CPC, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-10 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING.
Consumer Protection; Coffee Labeling; Hawaii-Grown and -Processed Coffee; Geographic Origin; Regional Origin
Clarifies the labeling and advertising requirements for coffee that is grown and processed in the State. Defines "regional origin". Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB48

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

48

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to coffee labeling
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that, despite recent amendments to existing laws on coffee
labeling and advertising, further amendments are necessary to avoid confusion
regarding foreign-grown coffee that is processed within the State.

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Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to
support Hawaii's coffee growers by clarifying the existing laws on the labeling
and advertising of certain coffee products and make necessary distinctions
between the definitions of "geographic origin" and "regional
origin".

����
SECTION
2
.
�
Section 486-120.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended as follows:

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1.
�

By amending its title and subsections (a) and (b) to read:

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"
�486-120.6
�
Hawaii-grown
and [
Hawaii-processed
]
processed
coffee; labeling or advertising
requirements.
�

(a)
�
In addition to all other
labeling requirements, the identity statement used for labeling or advertising
roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages produced in
whole or in part from Hawaii-grown and [
Hawaii-processed
]
processed

green coffee beans shall meet the following requirements:

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(1)
�
For roasted coffee, instant coffee, or
ready-to-drink coffee beverages that contain one hundred per cent Hawaii-grown
and [
Hawaii-processed
]
processed
coffee by weight, the identity
statement shall consist of either:

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(A)
�
One hundred per cent geographic origin.
�
The geographic origin of the Hawaii-grown and
[
Hawaii-processed
]
processed
coffee, in coffee consisting of
beans from only one geographic origin, followed by the word "Coffee";
provided that the geographic origin may be immediately preceded by the term
"100%"; or

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(B)
�
Blend of geographic origins.
�
The per cent coffee by weight of one of the
Hawaii-grown and [
Hawaii-processed
]
processed
coffees, used in
coffee consisting of beans from several geographic origins, followed by the
geographic origin of the weight-specified coffee and the terms
"Coffee" and "All Hawaiian";

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(2)
�
For roasted coffee, instant coffee, or
ready-to-drink coffee beverages consisting of a blend of one or more
Hawaii-grown and [
Hawaii-processed
]
processed
coffees
, not
less than the minimum per cent coffee by weight required under subsection
(d)(2),
and coffee not grown or processed in Hawaii, the per cent coffee by
weight of one of the Hawaii-grown and [
Hawaii-processed
]
processed

coffees used in the blend, followed by the geographic origin of the
weight-specified coffee and the term "Coffee Blend"; and

����
(3)
�
Each word or character in the identity
statement shall be of the same type size and shall be contiguous.
�
The smallest letter or character of the
identity statement on packages of sixteen ounces or less net weight shall be at
least one and one-half times the type size required under federal law for the
statement of net weight or three-sixteenths of an inch in height, whichever is
smaller.
�
The smallest letter or
character of the identity statement on packages of greater than sixteen ounces
net weight shall be at least one and one-half times the type size required
under federal law for the statement of net weight.
�
The identity statement shall be conspicuously
displayed without any intervening material in a position above the statement of
net weight.
�
Upper and lower case letters
may be used interchangeably in the identity statement.

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(b)
�
A listing of the geographic origins of the
various Hawaii-grown and [
Hawaii-processed
]
processed
coffees and
the regional origins of the various coffees not grown [
or
]
and

processed in Hawaii that are included in a blend
under subsection (a)(2)

shall be shown on the label.
�
This list
shall consist of the term "Contains:", followed by, in descending
order of per cent coffee by weight and separated by commas, the respective
geographic origin or regional origin of the various coffees in the blend.
�
Each geographic origin or regional origin
shall be preceded by the per cent coffee by weight represented by that
geographic origin or regional origin, expressed as a number followed by the per
cent sign.
�
In place of separate listings
of regional origins of coffee not grown or processed in Hawaii in the blend,
the list may include the words "Foreign-grown Coffee", preceded by
the per cent coffee by weight in the blend.
�

The type size used for this list shall be no less than half that of the
identity statement.
�
This list shall
appear below the identity statement on the front panel of the label."

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2.
�
By amending subsection (g) to read:

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"(g)
�
As used in this section:

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"Geographic
origin" means the geographic regions in which Hawaii-grown green coffee
beans are produced, as defined in rules adopted under chapter 147; provided
that the term "Hawaiian" may be substituted for the geographic origin
"Hawaii".

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"Per
cent coffee by weight" means the percentage calculated by dividing the
weight in pounds of roasted green coffee beans of one geographic or regional
origin used in a production run of roasted coffee, instant coffee, or
ready-to-drink coffee beverages by the total weight in pounds of the roasted
green coffee beans used in that production run of roasted coffee, instant
coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages, and multiplying the quotient by one
hundred.

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"Ready-to-drink
coffee beverage" means a prepackaged beverage that consists of or includes
coffee and is sold in a prepared form that can be immediately consumed upon
purchase.
�
"Ready-to-drink coffee beverage"
does not include made-to-order beverages.

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"Regional
origin" means any coffee growing region of the world, except those in the
State, where green coffee beans are grown and processed.
"

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SECTION 3.
�

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

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SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Consumer
Protection; Coffee Labeling; Hawaii-Grown and Processed Coffee; Geographic
Origins; Regional Origins

Description:

Clarifies
the labeling and advertising requirements for coffee that is grown and
processed in the State.
�
Defines regional
origin.

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