HB 2387 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS.

Summary

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, cervix, colon, esophagus, ovary, pharynx, skin, female reproductive organs, including the uterus, endometrium, and fallopian tubes, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law only if they prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with firefighting duties. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

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 27, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB2387 → HB2387_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill version updates the effective date of the law to July 1, 3000, and clarifies the rules for denying medical benefits to firefighters. The primary policy change is a shift in the burden of proof, requiring employers to prove a cancer or disease was NOT caused by firefighting duties before denying benefits, rather than the previous standard where they could deny benefits if they proved an association existed. The bill also adds 'Disease' to the report title to reflect the broader scope of covered conditions.

Scope change

The bill's scope is slightly expanded by adding 'Disease' to the report title, and the applicability timeline is set to a distant future date of July 1, 3000.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed to July 1, 3000.

ELIGIBILITY

The standard for denying medical benefits was reversed; employers must now prove a cancer or disease was not associated with firefighting duties to deny benefits, whereas previously they could deny benefits if they proved an association existed.

TECHNICAL

The report title was updated to include 'Disease' alongside 'Cancer'.

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 and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3215) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Ihara, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to LBT, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 104).

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none 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, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 640-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kong.

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 6

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

27 primary · 0 co-sponsors