SCR 119 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE CENTER FOR NURSING TO COMPILE A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF RECOMMENDED SAFE PATIENT STAFFING RATIOS FOR ALL NURSING SPECIALTIES AND SUBSPECIALTIES ACROSS ALL HEALTH CARE SETTINGS AND TO MAINTAIN A REPOSITORY FOR THIS INFORMATION.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to conduct a study compiling recommended safe patient staffing ratios for various hospital units and healthcare settings. The study will use existing state bills as a framework and incorporate guidelines from major professional nursing organizations, including those specializing in critical care, emergency, pediatric, and psychiatric nursing. The Center for Nursing is asked to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature and Department of Health by early 2027, with the goal of providing data to help healthcare facilities implement safer staffing levels.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026

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What changed between versions

SCR119 → SCR119_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to broaden its scope from a single study to the creation of a permanent public repository for safe staffing ratios. The requestor was changed from the 'Hawaii State Center for Nursing' to the 'Center for Nursing,' and the specific requirement to use House Bill 1865 and Senate Bill 2763 as a framework was removed to allow for a more comprehensive collection of standards from various sources. The deadline for submission was shortened from twenty days before the 2027 session to simply being available by that date.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a one-time study of specific hospital units to a comprehensive, ongoing repository covering all nursing specialties and healthcare settings.

REQUIREMENT

The specific mandate to use House Bill 1865 and Senate Bill 2763 as the foundational framework for the study was removed, allowing the Center to compile a broader list without being restricted to those specific bills.

The request was expanded from conducting a study to compiling a comprehensive list and maintaining a permanent repository of recommended staffing ratios for all specialties.

TIMELINE

The deadline for the output was changed from submitting a study twenty days before the 2027 session to simply making the repository publicly available by that date.

TECHNICAL

The entity requesting the action was updated from 'Hawaii State Center for Nursing' to 'Center for Nursing'.

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

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 28

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 482) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3484) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 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, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole.

upper

Mar 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-30-26 1:07PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors