Hawaii lawmakers are lining up a hard reset on a slew of modern money and tech habits, advancing a package of consumer-protection bills that would clamp down on prediction markets, ban certain cash-to-crypto kiosks, require one-click social media account deletion, and rein in deceptive mailers. The measures cleared the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce and are now headed to the state Senate.
“We are focused on closing loopholes that enable predatory practices,” House Consumer Protection & Commerce Chair Scot Z. Matayoshi said in a statement to Maui Now. Lawmakers are pitching the bills as a shield for kūpuna and other vulnerable residents who are often first in scammers’ crosshairs.
Prediction markets targeted
The heavyweight in the package, HB2198, would overhaul Hawaii’s gambling definition so it clearly covers “prediction event contracts” that let people wager on real-world outcomes. That includes sports, contests, elections, disasters and even death, pulling those bets into the same legal bucket as more traditional forms of gambling.
Bill language tracked by LegiScan says lawmakers are specifically trying to close a loophole that has allowed event-contract trading platforms to operate outside existing gambling prohibitions.
Social platforms must allow one-click deletion
HB1753, dubbed the Hawaii Social Media Data Deletion Act, takes aim at the digital clutter companies love to keep. The bill would require covered social media platforms to offer a clear, conspicuous and easy way for users to delete their accounts with essentially one click.
Under the proposal, platforms would have 45 days to permanently erase personal and sensitive information tied to deleted accounts, could not use tricky interface designs that make deletion harder, and would face enforcement from the state Attorney General. The full text is posted by the Hawaii State Legislature.
Deceptive mailings and consumer disclosures
HB1511 goes after the kind of junk mail that looks suspiciously like something from your bank or car dealer. The bill would prohibit mail or electronic solicitations that are reasonably likely to mislead consumers into believing they come from vehicle manufacturers, dealers, mortgage servicers or insurers unless a clear, bold disclosure is included.
According to the summary on LegiScan, any contracts entered into because of such misleading solicitations would be voidable, and companies could be forced to issue refunds when required disclosures are missing.
Ban on crypto ATMs
HB1642 targets digital financial-asset transaction kiosks, the cash-to-crypto machines that have become familiar in convenience stores and strip malls. The bill would bar operators from owning, operating or managing kiosks in Hawaii that accept U.S. currency in exchange for digital assets, starting Oct. 1, 2026.
The measure cites FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center data that show a sharp rise in kiosk-related scams and millions of dollars in reported losses. Each prohibited transaction would count as a separate offense under definitions laid out in the text filed with the Hawaii State Legislature.
What happens next
All four bills are now in the state Senate, where committees can tweak language and take more testimony. The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection has already put two of them on pause, deferring action on HB1642 and HB1753 until next Tuesday, March 24, at 9:45 a.m. in CR229, according to Maui Now.
Why it matters
HB2198 in particular could invite legal challenges if it becomes law, landing Hawaii squarely in the national debate over how to handle prediction-market platforms and their potential for manipulation or insider-driven bets. Industry observers have already flagged Hawaii as one of the early movers on a state-level crackdown, as noted by coverage in iGamingToday.
Residents who want to keep tabs on the bills and hearing dates can use the state Legislature’s online bill tracker, which is updated frequently throughout the session.
