HB579 • 2026

RELATING TO LIQUOR.

Active

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

Sponsor: HOLT, GARCIA, KAHALOA, KILA, LA CHICA, LAMOSAO, MARTEN, MIYAKE, POEPOE, TODD
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 information on consequences of license denial, impact on businesses, or appeal processes.

Liquor License Renewal Denial

This bill requires that liquor commissions or boards deny the renewal of a liquor license if an applicant has violated any part of Hawaii's Intoxicating Liquor Law three times in one year before applying for renewal.

What This Bill Does

Adds a rule requiring liquor commissions and boards to not renew licenses if there have been three violations within a year.
Specifies that the violations must be under chapter 281 of Hawaii Revised Statutes, which covers intoxicating liquor laws.
Requires this new rule to apply when an applicant is trying to renew their license.

Who It Names or Affects

Liquor commissions and boards in Hawaii
Businesses or individuals applying for renewal of a liquor license

Terms To Know

Intoxicating Liquor Law: The laws in chapter 281 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes that regulate the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
Liquor commissions or boards: Government bodies responsible for overseeing liquor licenses and enforcing related laws in Hawaii.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a license is denied due to violations.
It's unclear how this will affect businesses that rely on their liquor licenses.
There are no details about the process for appealing a denial decision.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to CPC, JHA, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO LIQUOR.
Liquor Commissions; Liquor Control Adjudication Boards; License Renewal; Violations; Denial
Requires Liquor Commissions or Boards to deny any renewal for a liquor license if the applicant for renewal has violated any provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Law under chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on three separate occasions during the twelve-month period preceding the renewal application date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB579

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

579

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

rELATING
TO LIQUOR
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 281-61, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�281-61
�
Renewals.
�
(a)
�

Other than for good cause, the renewal of an existing license shall be
granted upon the filing of an application; provided that if:

����
(1)
�
Complaints
from the public;

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(2)
�
Reports
from the commission's investigators; or

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(3)
�
Adjudications
of the commission or the liquor control adjudication board,

indicate
that noise created by patrons departing from the premises disturbs residents on
the street or of the neighborhood in which the premises are located, or that
noise from the premises or adjacent related outdoor areas such as parking lots
or lanais exceed standards contained in state or county noise codes or intrudes
into nearby residential units, the commission may deny the renewal application
or withhold the issuance of a renewed license until corrective measures meeting
the commission's approval are taken.

����
(b)
�

The commission or board, pursuant to section 281-17, at the time of
renewal or at any time, may revoke, suspend, or place conditions or
restrictions on any license issued under this chapter for the purpose of preventing
activities within the licensed premises or adjacent areas that are potentially
injurious to the health, safety, and welfare of the public and neighborhood
including but not limited to criminal activity, including assault, drug
dealing, drug use, or prostitution, upon proper notice to the licensee, and a
hearing before the commission pursuant to chapter 91.

����
(c)
�
The commission or board shall deny renewal of
a class 2, class 4, class 5, class 6, class 11, class 12, class 13, class 14,
class 15, class 17, or class 18 license if the applicant for renewal fails to
present proof of the liquor liability insurance required by section 281-31(s).

����
(d)
�

The commission or board shall deny renewal of any liquor license if the
applicant for renewal has violated any provision of this chapter on three
separate occasions during the twelve-month period preceding the renewal
application date.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�

New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Liquor
Commissions; Liquor Control Adjudication Boards; License Renewal; Violations;
Denial

Description:

Requires
Liquor Commissions or Boards to deny any renewal for a liquor license if the
applicant for renewal has violated any provision of the Intoxicating Liquor Law
under chapter 281, Hawaii Revised Statutes, on three separate occasions during
the twelve-month period preceding the renewal application date.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.