SB 2277 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY.

Summary

Requires each hospital licensed in the State to provide an annual attestation to the State Health Planning and Development Agency that the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Permits patients to file a counterclaim against debt collection actions filed by hospitals to determine if the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Requires hospitals to provide patients with an easy-to-understand itemized bill statement before initiating a debt collection action against a patient. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Mar 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2277_HD1 → SB2277_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill shifts from a voluntary reporting system to a mandatory enforcement framework requiring hospitals to comply with federal price transparency rules. It empowers the Department of Health to monitor compliance, issue penalties, and publish lists of non-compliant hospitals, while also protecting patients from debt collection if their hospital fails to meet these transparency standards.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general state agency oversight model to specifically target the Department of Health as the primary enforcer, with stricter requirements for all licensed hospitals in the State.

ENFORCEMENT

Added specific enforcement powers for the Department of Health, including the authority to investigate complaints, audit websites, and issue written notices of non-compliance.

Established civil penalties ranging from $600 to $11,000 per day of violation, scaled by the number of hospital beds.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that hospitals publish machine-readable files and consumer-friendly lists of standard charges on their websites.

ELIGIBILITY

Created a legal defense allowing patients to counterclaim and dismiss debt collection lawsuits if their hospital was non-compliant with price transparency laws.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Department' (Department of Health), 'Machine-readable format', 'Shoppable service', and 'Patient guarantor'.

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 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1241-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

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, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hartsfield.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 205) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 10:35AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2554) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 6, 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

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

6 primary · 1 co-sponsor