I am writing to you as a constituent, a small business owner, and a licensed premium cigar tobacconist in your district to express my opposition to SB 2509.
My business serves adult consumers and operates in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. Like many premium cigar retailers in Hawaii, I am a locally owned, small business that provides jobs, contributes to the local economy, and operates responsibly within our community.
While SB 2509 declares tobacco sales to be a matter of statewide concern, it also allows counties to adopt their own regulations governing the sale of tobacco products. This approach would create a patchwork of local rules that makes it significantly more difficult for small businesses like mine to operate and remain compliant.
Unlike large corporations, small tobacconists do not have dedicated compliance staff or legal teams to track and respond to different county-level regulations. Even modest variations in local rules can create substantial costs, uncertainty, and risk for businesses that are already heavily regulated.
If tobacco regulation is truly a statewide issue, it should be governed by clear, uniform standards exclusively at the state level rather than through a system that allows differing county ordinances. Consistency and predictability in the law are essential for small businesses to plan, invest, and continue serving their customers responsibly.
For these reasons, I respectfully urge you to oppose SB 2509 and support policies that protect small businesses while maintaining clear and consistent statewide regulation.
Thank you for your time and for representing our district. I appreciate your consideration and your service to our community.