HB 218 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HOSPITALS.

Summary

Requires any hospital licensed by the Department of Health that has an operating room to adopt and implement policies to prevent exposure to surgical smoke. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2025 Last action Feb 5, 2026

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What changed between versions

HB218 → HB218_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to broaden the scope of hospitals required to comply, extend the implementation deadline from 2026 to 2027, and add flexibility by allowing hospitals to use measures other than smoke evacuation systems if appropriate. The effective date was also changed to a future placeholder year of 3000.

Scope change

The requirement now applies to any hospital licensed by the Department of Health that has an operating room, whereas previously it applied only to hospitals with operating rooms licensed pursuant to a specific section.

REQUIREMENT

Hospitals are now allowed to use a smoke evacuation system or any other appropriate measure to prevent exposure to surgical smoke.

TIMELINE

The deadline for hospitals to adopt and implement policies was extended from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2027.

The Act's effective date was changed to July 1, 3000.

SCOPE

The applicability was broadened to include any hospital licensed by the Department of Health with an operating room, removing the specific licensing subsection reference.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 31-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors