HB 2009 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Summary

Establishes a Disability and Caregiver Support Working Group to explore compliant and fiscally responsible approaches that address the longstanding gap affecting parents and guardians with disabilities whose caregiving capacity may be substantially impaired due to disability or serious medical conditions, while preserving federal funding integrity. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB2009_HD2 → HB2009_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to replace immediate statutory mandates with a temporary study group. Instead of immediately extending child care subsidies to disabled parents or requiring specific Medicaid assessments, the new version establishes a 'Disability and Caregiver Support Working Group' to explore these issues and propose future legislation. This shifts the approach from direct action to a research and recommendation phase.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from implementing immediate changes to child care and Medicaid eligibility to creating a temporary working group tasked with studying the problem and reporting findings to the legislature by 2027.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed the immediate mandate to extend child care subsidies to disabled parents regardless of employment status.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the Department of Human Services to immediately evaluate caregiver capacity and update functional assessment protocols.

Added the creation of a 'Disability and Caregiver Support Working Group' consisting of state officials and legislative appointees to study the issue.

TIMELINE

Added a requirement for the working group to submit a report with recommendations and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days before the 2027 regular session.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed the bill from a law that takes effect immediately to one that establishes a study group with a future reporting deadline.

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

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 HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3328) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fevella.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-26 1:40PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 341).

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 Representative(s) Kong, Pierick excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 374-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 5, 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, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

19 primary · 0 co-sponsors