A tax parity law was passed by the state Legislature that would match the tax rate of vaping products to the current rates for combustible cigarettes.
Senate Bill 975 would establish a 70% wholesale tax on all vape products, if approved by Gov. Josh Green.
The increase would make the tax rate one of the highest in the country for vape products.
The bill also bans the sale of vape products to consumers by out-of-state retailers, which virtually eliminates online sales from companies outside of Hawaii.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect Jan. 1, 2024.
A separate bill that attempted to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products did not make it through the Legislature this session, nor did an attempt at a generational ban on tobacco sales.