HB 1546 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Summary

Establishes a 3-year Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to assist individuals who have lost Medicaid health insurance coverage and lack access to other health insurance options. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to contract with a nonprofit health insurer or community-based organization to operate the Pilot Program under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to issue premium subsidies in certain circumstances. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action May 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1546_SD1 → HB1546_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision reorganizes the structure to include new parts for appropriations and updates the effective date to July 1, 3000. It adds a specific appropriation section for funding the program and clarifies the legislative findings regarding Medicaid changes. The core policy regarding the health coverage pilot program and subsidies remains largely the same, though formatting was adjusted to align with standard legislative drafting conventions.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for individuals losing Medicaid coverage, but the revision adds a dedicated section for funding the initiative.

FISCAL

Added a new Part III and Section 3 to explicitly appropriate state general revenues for the fiscal year 2026-2027 to implement the pilot program.

TIMELINE

Updated the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2026 (implied by context) to July 1, 3000, and the repeal date to June 30, 2029.

STRUCTURE

Reorganized the bill into four distinct parts (Part I through Part IV) to separate findings, program details, appropriations, and effective dates.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new subsection (2) in Section 1 to formally appropriate moneys as a specific purpose of the Act.

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 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 5:20PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-27-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 582) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3318) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to CPN, WAM.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS/CPN, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 17).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 670-26), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Lowen.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 220-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSH, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

18 primary · 0 co-sponsors