SB 2271 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING.

Summary

Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules to allow hospitals to demonstrate compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State through accreditation or certification by any accreditation or certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (CD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

May 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jul 2026

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Signed Jul 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2271_HD2 → SB2271_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill shifts from a permissive approach to a mandatory regulatory one. Previously, the law allowed hospitals to use external accreditation to skip state inspections; now, it requires the Department of Health to create specific rules enabling this process. The change also updates the list of approved healthcare organizations and clarifies the reporting requirements for hospitals.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a general permission for hospitals to a specific mandate for the Department of Health to adopt implementing rules.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the legislative intent from permitting hospitals to use external accreditation to requiring the Department of Health to adopt rules allowing it.

Replaced the specific example of 'The Joint Commission' with the broader category of organizations approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Updated the reporting requirement to specify that hospitals must submit official reports from their accrediting or certifying organization.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted the bill version metadata, author names, and revision numbers to reflect the transition from House Draft 2 to Senate Draft 1.

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

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 221-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

May 1, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.

upper

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 221-26).

upper

May 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Matayoshi.

lower

May 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Apr 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.

lower

Apr 20, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 30

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 642).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1350-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 203) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2294) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors