HB 1648 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Summary

Authorizes health care providers to dispense nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation patients, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✗ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Last action Mar 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1648_HD1 → HB1648_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to reverse a prohibition on dispensing nonprescription drugs for workers' compensation, instead authorizing healthcare providers to dispense them under specific conditions. This change ensures injured employees can still access necessary over-the-counter medications while preventing inflated billing costs. The amendment adds requirements that the drug must be clinically necessary and priced at prevailing retail rates, and clarifies that providers can still recommend these drugs to patients.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from prohibiting the dispensing of nonprescription drugs to authorizing it under specific circumstances.

SCOPE

Reversed the main policy direction from prohibiting healthcare providers from dispensing nonprescription drugs to authorizing them to do so.

REQUIREMENT

Added two specific conditions for dispensing: the drug must be clinically necessary for the injury, and the charge must not exceed prevailing retail prices.

Clarified that providers are still allowed to recommend or advise patients to obtain these drugs, even if they do not dispense them directly.

DEFINITION

Updated the section title and description to reflect the shift from a prohibition to an authorization with conditions.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to LBT/HHS, CPN.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to LBT/HHS, WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 256).

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

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Marten, Pierick.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 633-26) 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 20, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

4 primary · 0 co-sponsors