Informing the Legislature that on June 24, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1509 HD2 SD1 CD1 (ACT 131).

This bill, known as Act 131, amends Hawaii's workers' compensation laws to streamline how doctors submit treatment plans to employers. It allows physicians to send these plans via mail, fax, or secure electronic means, with the plan considered received once transmission is confirmed. Employers must respond to the plan within ten days by accepting it or providing specific medical evidence for an objection; failure to respond is treated as acceptance and may result in a $1,000 fine. Additionally, the law permits employers to object later only if new medical evidence arises and establishes that employers denying plans without reasonable grounds must pay the injured employee's legal costs.