HB 423 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Summary

Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of rehabilitation services. Requires providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational plan no later than ninety days after submitting an initial evaluation report, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Labor & Employment

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB423_HD2 → HB423_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the vocational rehabilitation process for injured workers by clarifying how providers are selected and requiring them to automatically approve services if the worker likely needs them to return to work. It also sets a new deadline for providers to submit rehabilitation plans and changes the bill's effective date from the year 3000 to 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on workers' compensation and vocational rehabilitation services, but the requirements for providers have been expanded to include automatic approval protocols and specific filing deadlines.

REQUIREMENT

Providers must now automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services if they determine the injured employee will likely need them to return to suitable gainful employment.

Providers are required to file the employee's rehabilitation plan no later than ninety days after submitting the initial evaluation report, unless an extension is agreed upon.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050.

DEFINITION

The report title was updated to include 'Automatic Approval' to reflect the new mandatory approval process.

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

Apr 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 04-25-25 at 2:30PM in Conference Room 016.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 10:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-24-25 10:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 10:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 17, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-21-25 10:00AM in conference room 016.

lower

Apr 14, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to LAB, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 31

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 634) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-04-25 10:46AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1171) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Ihara, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-10-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to LBT, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 234).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Ilagan, Lowen, Pierick.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 474) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

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 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors