HB 816 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

Summary

Authorizes licensed paramedics in a county with a population of 100,000 or less to administer buprenorphine after administration of an opioid antagonist in cases of opioid overdoses, under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Health to implement a two-year phased pilot program beginning in one county with a population of 100,000 or less and authorizes expansion of the program statewide as additional treatment resources become available. Requires a report to the Legislature evaluating program outcomes. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB816_HD1 → HB816_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from a general authorization for all EMTs to a specific, limited pilot program for paramedics only. The changes introduce a two-year phased rollout starting in a small county, require verified treatment centers within 48 hours, and add a sunset clause to repeal the pilot provisions after June 2028.

Scope change

The bill's scope narrowed from statewide eligibility for all emergency medical technicians to a restricted pilot program limited to paramedics in a single county with a population of 100,000 or less.

ELIGIBILITY

Authorization changed from all EMTs to paramedics only.

REQUIREMENT

New requirement for the Department of Health to designate treatment centers capable of accepting patients within 24 to 48 hours.

Added a requirement for the Department of Health to submit a detailed evaluation report to the legislature within 20 months.

TIMELINE

Added a two-year phased pilot program starting July 1, 2026, with a sunset date of June 30, 2028.

FISCAL

Added an appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027 to fund the pilot program.

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 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3125) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 16, 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 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 9).

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 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 327) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garcia.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors