SB 1139 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Summary

Directs the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to expand Medicaid eligibility to all children in the State from birth to age 5 without regard to household income. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Feb 11, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB1139 → SB1139_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was converted from a House bill to a Senate District 1 amendment, shifting the primary sponsor and updating metadata. The most significant policy change is the removal of specific funding amounts for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, leaving the appropriation amount blank for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Additionally, the effective date of the law was drastically delayed from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding Medicaid eligibility for children remains the same, but the financial commitment and implementation timeline have been altered.

FISCAL

Deleted the specific appropriation of $317,000,000 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the bill from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2050.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill type from 'SB' to 'SD' (Senate District) and changed the sponsor from Jill M. Tsuchitori to Fredrick Akau.

REQUIREMENT

Added 'Rules' to the report title, indicating the bill now explicitly directs the Department of Human Services to adopt rules.

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

Feb 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2164) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

4 primary · 1 co-sponsor