STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2924

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3062

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 3062, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIQUOR,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to allow the University of Hawaii and its campuses and state libraries to utilize liquor in certain educational settings without obtaining liquor licenses, subject to certain limitations.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System.

Your Committee finds that state educational institutions must navigate county-by-county liquor licensing restrictions to fulfill basic curriculum requirements, particularly for the culinary and hospitality programs at the University of Hawaii. This measure would enable state educational institutions to focus on their core mission by providing experiential learning and hands-on training with liquor under controlled and safe conditions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing language prohibiting the consumption of liquor by persons under the age of twenty-one with language to clarify that exempt entities shall comply with section 281-4(c), Hawaii Revised Statutes;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3062, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3062, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection,

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JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair