SB1436

Repeals preemption on county ordinances regulating the sale of tobacco products and electronic smoking devices.

This bill repeals the preemption on county ordinances that regulate the sale of cigarettes, tobacco products, and electronic smoking devices. It aims to restore counties' authority to adopt more stringent ordinances than state statutes. The bill responds to the rising use of electronic smoking devices among youth in Hawaii, with high school vaping rates reaching 22% in Hawaii County, 18% in Maui County, and 16% in Kauai County. The bill seeks to address the multibillion-dollar marketing campaigns by tobacco companies targeting youth.