HB2160 revises the disposition of cigarette tax revenues that are dedicated to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund. The bill removes a prior statutory restriction that required a portion of the money deposited into that fund to be used exclusively for debt service on capital expenditures and building maintenance for a specified period beginning after December 31, 2025. Under the bill, the full 4.0 cents per cigarette deposited to the fund after that date would instead be available for the fund’s general purposes, including research, operating expenses, and capital expenditures.
The bill also includes a general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support the operations and activities of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center. The appropriation amount is left blank in the text, indicating that the final funding level was not specified in the version provided. The measure is titled as relating to cancer and is framed as both a revenue-disposition change and a direct support measure for cancer research infrastructure and programming.
Impact
If enacted, HB2160 would amend section 245-15 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to change how cigarette tax receipts are allocated to the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund beginning after December 31, 2025. The bill would eliminate the earmark that tied part of those receipts to debt service and building maintenance, thereby giving the University of Hawaii Cancer Center and related fund administrators more flexibility in using those revenues for research, operations, and capital needs. It would not alter the underlying cigarette tax rates, but it would change the statutory restrictions on the use of a portion of the proceeds and require annual accounting to the Legislature to continue.
Sentiment
The available legislative history suggests generally favorable sentiment toward the bill. It passed second reading as amended in HD 1 and was referred onward without any recorded opposition in the vote summary, with no members voting no and one member excused. That indicates the measure moved forward with broad procedural support, at least at the stage reflected in the record provided.
Contention
The main substantive issue in the bill is the repeal of the dedicated debt-service and building-maintenance restriction on money flowing into the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund. Supporters likely view this as a way to increase flexibility and better direct tobacco-tax revenue toward cancer research and the University of Hawaii Cancer Center’s needs, while any concern would center on whether removing the earmark could weaken predictable funding for capital obligations and facility upkeep. No specific committee testimony or recorded floor debate is provided, so the record does not show organized opposition or named stakeholders beyond the fund administrators, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, and taxpayers contributing through cigarette taxes.