SB 2211 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Summary

Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2026 Last action Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2211_SD1 → SB2211_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to add a new provision providing emergency funding to help Hawaii residents afford health insurance purchased through the federal marketplace, addressing rising premiums due to recent federal policies. The original text regarding the redirection of funds for food security was modified to explicitly list both food security and health insurance assistance as purposes for the appropriation. Additionally, the effective date of the act was changed from immediate approval to July 1, 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from solely addressing emergency food assistance during a government shutdown to also include assistance for health insurance costs for Hawaii residents.

SCOPE

Added a new finding that residents face higher health insurance premiums and a new purpose to assist them with costs for insurance through the federal marketplace.

Updated the bill title and summary to reflect the addition of health insurance assistance alongside emergency food assistance.

FISCAL

Modified the appropriation section to remove a specific dollar amount for food assistance and added a separate appropriation clause for the new health insurance assistance.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from upon approval to July 1, 2050.

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 24, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1371-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 15

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 16) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2249) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

7 primary · 2 co-sponsors