Priorities for the 2026 Hawaii Legislative Session

The 2026 Hawaii Legislative Session starts January 21 and we anticipate it will be a very busy one.

We will focus on several key priorities, including:

• Adding hands-only CPR training to high school curriculum and ensuring schools are ready when a cardiac emergency happens on school grounds by having a cardiac emergency response plan in place.
• Restoring power to counties to make local decisions on tobacco control policies. Three counties have already passed legislation to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products, but they can’t go into effect until the state law is changed.
• Establishing a sugar sweetened beverage fee. Sugary drinks are the leading source of added sugar in the American diet. A typical 12-ounce can of regular soda has 130 calories and about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Added sugars also sneak into beverages, including sports drinks, fruit drinks, and flavored milks, which is damaging for heart health. This legislation will help reduce consumption of sugary drinks, and the revenue collected could be reinvested in preventative health programs.

We will be announcing opportunities for volunteers to engage in our advocacy efforts at the Capitol in the upcoming weeks so be on the lookout for ways to get involved!

We also will monitor all filed legislation that may impact the American Heart Association’s mission to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Thank you for being an advocate and we will be in touch to alert you to opportunities to make a difference. If you have any questions or would like to talk with me about these issues, please don’t hesitate to reach out.