STAND. COM. REP. NO. 157-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2160

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2160 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CANCER,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Repeal the requirement that a certain amount received from the cigarette tax on the wholesale price of each article or item of certain tobacco products deposited into the Hawaii Cancer Research Special Fund must be used for debt service of capital expenditures and building maintenance; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the operations and activities of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Medical Association; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that there are profound challenges faced by Hawaii patients and families navigating cancer care. Your Committee further finds that the University of Hawaii Cancer Center provides important cancer research and access to life-saving treatment, including clinical trials which play a critical role in reducing the cancer burden for the State's residents. The University of Hawaii Cancer Center has also been designated as vital for cancer screening, prevention, treatment, and education by the National Cancer Institute and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in the pacific. This measure ensures that funding can be directed toward frontline research and care, thereby strengthening local capacity to study cancer causes, innovate treatments, and improve outcomes for the State's diverse populations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2160, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2160, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair