RELATING TO HEALTH.
Summary
Allows a pathway for foreign medical school graduates to be licensed as physicians that was previously only available to graduates who passed the qualifying examination of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates before 1984. Establishes an alternative pathway for the licensure as physicians for foreign medical graduates who passed certain examinations, possess an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates certificate, and have completed two years of post-graduate medical training. (SD1)
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jan 23, 2025
Signed Jun 4, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
HB1379_HD2
→
HB1379_SD1
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates Hawaii's medical licensure rules for foreign medical graduates by replacing a single pathway with two distinct options. The first option allows graduates who passed the ECFMG qualifying exam before 1984 to obtain licensure with three years of approved hospital training. The second option provides a new pathway for graduates who passed the FLEX or USMLE exams, hold an ECFMG certificate, and have completed two years of accredited post-graduate medical training. The effective date was also changed from July 1, 3000, to upon approval.
Scope change
The bill expands eligibility by creating an alternative licensure pathway for foreign medical graduates who passed modern licensing exams (FLEX/USMLE) and completed post-graduate training, in addition to the existing pathway for pre-1984 ECFMG exam takers.
ELIGIBILITY
Replaced a single licensure pathway with two distinct options for foreign medical graduates.
REQUIREMENT
Changed the required post-graduate medical training from three years in a hospital-approved program to two years in an accredited post-graduate training program for the new pathway.
Added requirement for FLEX or USMLE exam passage as an alternative to the pre-1984 ECFMG qualifying exam.
TIMELINE
Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000, to upon legislative approval.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
34
Key actions
9
Committee
10
Amendments
3
Apr 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Final Reading as amended in SD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).
lower
Apr 21, 2025
Introduced
House agrees to Senate amendment(s).
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Amended
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Introduced
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 766) in amended form (SD 1).
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Upper · Passed
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee on CPN has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 04-01-25 10:07AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Committee
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1225) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to HHS, CPN.
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 365).
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Lowen, Pierick.
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 513) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
lower
Feb 7, 2025
Lower · Passed
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
lower
Jan 27, 2025
Committee
Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 4
lower
Jan 23, 2025
Introduced
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
lower
9 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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