HB 1509 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Summary

Repeals the authorization of a physician to transmit a treatment plan by mail or facsimile and the requirement that the physician submit the plan to an address or facsimile number provided by the employer. Requires an employer to file a response, either accepting or objecting to a treatment plan, within ten days of receipt. Imposes a monetary penalty if an employer does not file a response within the ten-day period, unless there was good cause for the delay. Clarifies that a treatment plan is deemed accepted if an employer fails to file certain documents within the ten-day period. Imposes penalties on employers found to have improperly denied a treatment plan. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Signed Jun 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1509_HD2 → HB1509_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision tightens employer responsibilities regarding workers' compensation treatment plans by shortening the response deadline from ten to seven days and shifting the burden of proof to the employer to justify any denial. It introduces a presumption that denials lacking medical support are unreasonable and mandates immediate payment for accepted care. Additionally, the penalties for non-compliance were significantly increased, and the effective date of the law was moved from the distant future of 3000 to January 1, 2077.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on workers' compensation treatment plans, but the applicability of stricter deadlines and enforcement measures now applies to all employers denying such plans.

REQUIREMENT

The deadline for employers to respond to a treatment plan was reduced from ten days to seven days.

Employers are now required to pay health care providers immediately for any medical care included in a treatment plan that is accepted or deemed accepted.

ENFORCEMENT

Employers now bear the burden of proof to justify denying a treatment plan using a preponderance of medical evidence, with a presumption that unsupported denials are unreasonable.

Penalties for frivolous or unjustified denials were increased to a minimum fine of $5,000 plus payment of the employee's legal costs.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the legislation was changed from July 1, 3000, to January 1, 2077.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

May 1, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 145-26).

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 145-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Keohokalole, Rhoads, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Matayoshi, Lee, M., Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 23, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 8:45AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to LAB, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 30

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 574) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from LBT/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3371) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to LBT/CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 231).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 630-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors