A bill to give the ability to regulate tobacco sales back to counties is getting attention at the state Legislature this session.
Lawmakers are considering a measure to repeal a 2018 state law known as Act 206 that preempts county tobacco sales measures.
More than 150 pages of testimony were submitted for House Bill 1563, although they were mixed.
But local officials and health advocates say counties have shown they’re better at tackling smoking than the state is. They also say that preemption laws are often used by the tobacco industry to skirt regulations.
“Over the past few months, the City and County of Honolulu and County of Hawaiʻi have passed bills to end flavored tobacco sales in their communities, sending a clear message to the state to protect our keiki statewide or restore their authority to regulate tobacco sales,” said Luke…
