HB829 • 2026

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.

Active

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

Sponsor: MIYAKE, LAMOSAO
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 specify that exempted nonprofit leaders must still disclose their criminal history or provide fingerprints. This information was removed as it is not supported by the provided text.

Exempting Nonprofit Leaders from Liquor License Background Checks

This bill makes leaders of nonprofit organizations exempt from background checks required by county liquor commissions when applying for a liquor license, provided they are not primary decision-makers regarding the sale or purchase of alcohol.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law to allow officers, directors, or board members of nonprofit organizations to be exempt from criminal history record checks when they apply for a liquor license, if they are not designated as primary decision-makers about selling or buying alcohol.

Who It Names or Affects

Leaders of nonprofit organizations applying for liquor licenses
County liquor commissions conducting background checks

Terms To Know

Nonprofit organization: A group that does not make a profit and uses its money to support its cause.
Liquor license: A permit allowing an establishment or individual to sell alcoholic beverages.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only exempts nonprofit leaders who are not primary decision-makers about alcohol sales.
It does not change the requirements for other types of businesses applying for liquor licenses.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to JHA, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO INTOXICATING LIQUOR.
Intoxicating Liquor; Licenses; Criminal History Record Check; Nonprofit Organizations; Exempt
Provides that leaders of nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from county liquor commission criminal history check requirements for license applicants.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB829

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

829

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to intoxicating liquor
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 281-53.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

����
"
�281-53.5
�
County liquor commissions; criminal history
record check.
�
(a)
�
The respective county liquor commissions may
request a criminal history record check of an applicant for a liquor license in
accordance with section 846-2.7; provided that neither a criminal history
record check nor compliance with this section shall be required for the
officers and directors of publicly-traded companies or entities ultimately
solely owned by a publicly-traded company,
or officers, directors, or board
members of nonprofit organizations
who are not designated as primary
decision-makers regarding the sale or purchase of liquor.
�
The criminal history record check, at a
minimum, shall require the applicant to disclose whether:

����
(1)
�
The applicant has been convicted in any
jurisdiction of a crime that would tend to indicate the applicant may be
unsuited for obtaining a liquor license; and

����
(2)
�
The judgment of conviction has not been
vacated.

����
For
the purpose of this section, the criminal history disclosure made by the
applicant may be verified by the liquor commission by means of information
obtained through the Hawaii criminal justice data center.
�
The applicant shall provide the Hawaii
criminal justice data center with personal identifying information which shall
include but not be limited to the applicant's name, social security number,
date of birth, and gender.
�
This
information shall be secured only for the purpose of conducting the criminal
history record check authorized by this section.

����
(b)
�

The applicant shall submit to the liquor commission:

����
(1)
�
A
statement signed under penalty of law as to whether the applicant has ever been
convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation;

����
(2)
�
Written
consent to request and obtain criminal history record information for
verification; and

����
(3)
�
Permission
to be fingerprinted.

����
(c)
�

The liquor commission shall obtain criminal history record information
through the Hawaii criminal justice data center on the applicant.
�
The information obtained shall be used
exclusively for the stated purpose for which it was obtained and shall be
subject to applicable federal laws and regulations currently or hereafter in
effect."

����
SECTION 2.
�

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

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Intoxicating
Liquor; Licenses; Criminal History Record Check; Nonprofit Organizations;
Exempt

Description:

Provides
that leaders of nonprofit organizations shall be exempt from county liquor
commission criminal history check requirements for license applicants.

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