SB 299 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

SB 299 allocates state funds to the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, helping healthcare professionals repay student loans. It directly affects licensed healthcare workers (like nurses or doctors) who agree to work in underserved areas of the state. The bill provides financial assistance through the existing program, requiring participants to serve in designated high-need communities. The measure is currently under review by the Health and Human Services committee, with a public hearing scheduled for February 10, 2025. It is set to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 14, 2025 Last action Apr 2, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB299_SD1 → SB299_SD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was revised from Session 1 to Session 2, updating the legislative session number and amending the bill's purpose to explicitly incentivize healthcare providers to practice in Hawaii. A new requirement was added mandating that applicants commit to a specific number of years of full-time service in the state to qualify for loan repayment assistance. The effective date for the program was extended to December 31, 2050, and several administrative tracking numbers were updated.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded by adding a mandatory service commitment requirement for applicants and clarifying the legislative intent to incentivize local practice.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new provision requiring applicants to commit to a specific number of years of full-time service in Hawaii to receive loan repayment assistance.

SCOPE

Updated the bill's stated purpose to explicitly include incentivizing healthcare providers to practice in Hawaii.

TIMELINE

Maintained the effective date of December 31, 2050, while updating session identifiers and administrative tracking data.

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

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 574).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1420) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

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, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 125) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 26, 2025

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, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:04AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 594) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

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, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:20PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 14, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

10 primary · 0 co-sponsors