Hawai‘i deputy attorney general honored with prestigious national award

Hawai‘i Deputy Attorney General Rich Stacey — a national leader in tobacco law and supervisor of Hawaiʻi’s Tobacco Enforcement Unit — is the recipient of the prestigious national Laurie Loveland Award.

The award is presented by the National Association of Attorneys General in Washington, D.C., and honors an attorney general’s staff member who demonstrates outstanding leadership, collaboration and determination in advancing the united efforts on tobacco-related matters among the 50 states.

“I am deeply honored to receive the Laurie Loveland Award,” said Stacey in a Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General release about the award.

He added that the honor reflects more than just his work, however, it also puts on display the dedication and collaboration of the entire Hawai’i Tobacco Enforcement Unit, its partners throughout the state and the other states.

“Together we’ve strengthened tobacco enforcement, expanded public health protections and helped secure essential funding for prevention programs across the state,” Stacey said.

Stacey has been a deputy attorney general with the state nearly 15 years.

He is widely recognized throughout the nation as a leader in tobacco law and played a pivotal role in stabilizing funding for Hawaiʻi’s Cancer Center amid declining cigarette tax revenues and recent federal funding changes.

Stacey led a collaborative effort with the Hawaiʻi Departments of Health and Taxation as well as the University of Hawaiʻi to pass legislation increasing Hawaiʻi’s cigarette tax from 16 cents per stick to 18 cents — the first increase since 2011.

The legislation not only secures funding for critical health programs but also positions Hawaiʻi among the states with the highest cigarette taxes in the nation, helping reduce tobacco consumption statewide.

He also previously helped pass landmark legislation taxing electronic smoking devices at 70% of wholesale value and establishing licensing and permitting requirements.

The Laurie Loveland Award was established in 2004 by the National Association of Attorneys General to honor the legacy of Laurie Loveland, a North Dakota assistant attorney general and later solicitor general, who played a pivotal role in the collective litigation of the states against the tobacco industry.

Hawaiʻi Tobacco Enforcement Unit administers, monitors and enforces the master settlement agreement, signed in 1998 by Hawaiʻi and 45 other states with the four largest U.S. tobacco manufacturers to settle smoking-related claims.

Under the settlement, those manufacturers provide annual payments to the signing states; Hawaiʻi received $33 million last year.

These annual payments are critical for the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine, Rainy Day Fund and tobacco prevention and control programs throughout the state.

“I am so very pleased that Rich has been honored with the Laurie Loveland Award,” said National Association of Attorneys General Center for Tobacco and Public Health Director and Chief Counsel Michael Hering in the release. “Preserving the benefits of the master settlement agreement takes ongoing dedication, perseverance and a spirit of community and collaboration among the states.”

Hering added that Stacey is the embodiment of those values. His leadership on tobacco issues are not only recognized by his peers throughout the nation, Stacey’s efforts benefit the people of Hawaiʻi and every other state and territory.

Stacey worked this year with the Attorney General Investigations Division and Department of Taxation to investigate retailers and distributors attempting to evade the new excise tax on electronic smoking devices — efforts that have led to multiple vape business license revocations.

His oversight and enforcement leadership have strengthened Hawaiʻi’s regulatory framework while safeguarding youth and the public from the harms of tobacco use.

Stacey has leveraged Hawaiʻi’s Altria settlement dollars to strengthen vaping enforcement initiatives, advancing enforcement efforts around electronic smoking devices.

He also championed robust education campaigns to notify retailers and distributors about the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s list of authorized e-cigarette products and the consequences of violations.

Stacey’s work brought numerous retailers into voluntary compliance with federal law, plus he also collaborated with states throughout the nation to use federal Tobacco Enforcement Fund grants to address internet sellers of electronic smoking devices in violation of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act.

“The Laurie Loveland Award is one of the highest honors given to attorney general staff engaged in tobacco-related enforcement and policy,” said Hawaiʻi Attorney General Anne Lopez in the state release. “Rich’s thoughtful leadership, integrity and commitment make him exceptionally deserving of this recognition. I am incredibly proud of his work and grateful for all that he and his team do to protect the public health of the people of Hawaiʻi.”