This House Resolution asks Hawaii's Disability and Communication Access Board to study how deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind individuals communicate in healthcare settings and to develop updated guidelines for providers. The study will examine interpreter availability, patient preferences, special needs in hospitals and nursing facilities, and legal obligations for effective communication. Based on the findings, the Board will revise current guidance and submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. The resolution directs copies to the Director of Health and Board members to ensure healthcare facilities better serve patients with hearing and vision disabilities.
This bill requests that Hawaii's Departments of Health, Human Services, and Education create a coordinated plan to address fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), which affect individuals exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. The plan would explore establishing a statewide FASD coordinator, strategies for accessing federal funding, and methods to improve awareness and treatment services across the state. Departments are asked to include recommendations for training healthcare and education professionals, reducing reliance on foster care and the criminal justice system, and lowering economic barriers to early intervention. The departments must submit their findings and any proposed legislation to the Legislature by December 15, 2026.
This bill asks the City and County of Honolulu and the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to create a strategic plan for addressing homelessness and behavioral health needs on the Waianae Coast. The plan must include an analysis of emergency response times, hospital usage for psychiatric crises, available crisis beds, service gaps, and coordination between outreach teams and first responders. It also requires evaluating the feasibility of a regional crisis stabilization center and identifying any legal or budget changes needed to improve outcomes. Community-based service providers must be involved in developing the plan, which will be reported to the Legislature by March 2027.
This House Resolution asks the Governor's Senior Advisor for Mental Health and the Justice System to create a plan for increasing access to the Hawaii State Hospital for mentally ill criminal defendants and individuals recently released from the facility. The request is based on concerns that the hospital is currently at full capacity, with most patients being evaluated for fitness to stand trial, which limits available space for other needed placements. The resolution directs the Senior Advisor to develop a strategy for creating shelter placements for these populations and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026. This measure focuses on improving coordination among state agencies to address placement shortages rather than changing existing laws or funding levels.
This Hawaii House Resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass H.R. 2687, the End Kidney Deaths Act, which would create a federal tax credit system to encourage living kidney donations to strangers. The bill aims to address kidney disease disparities affecting rural and low-income communities by increasing the number of available organ donors through financial incentives for non-directed donations. The resolution highlights that kidney transplantation is more effective than dialysis for saving lives and reducing long-term healthcare costs, while noting that existing donor protections remain in place. This measure is presented as a bipartisan effort to expand access to life-saving transplants and reduce the number of patients waiting for kidneys.
This bill is a House Resolution that urges Hawaii state and local officials to stop using "excited delirium" as a medical diagnosis, cause of death, or legal theory. It directly affects law enforcement agencies, medical professionals, courts, and county governments across Hawaii by calling for the prohibition of this term in official records and legal proceedings. The resolution states that "excited delirium" is not recognized by major medical organizations or included in standard diagnostic manuals, and it requests that medical and legal decisions instead rely on scientifically validated principles. Named the Haleck Resolution in memory of a veteran who died during a law enforcement encounter, it asks county mayors and council chairs to adopt this guidance to ensure accountability and accurate reporting.
This House Resolution requests the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to compile a comprehensive list of recommended safe patient staffing ratios for all nursing specialties across healthcare settings and maintain a public repository of this information. The bill directs the center to make this repository available to the public no later than twenty days before the start of the 2027 legislative session. It also urges healthcare facilities to consider implementing these recommended staffing standards. The resolution is based on findings that safe staffing levels improve patient outcomes and support nurse retention, and it directs copies of the measure to state health officials and hospital executives.
This House Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address loneliness and social disconnection. The proposed program would involve collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience to train students in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices. Student peer counselors would serve as trained points of connection within schools, promoting belonging and helping identify students experiencing isolation while referring them to licensed mental health professionals when needed. The resolution recommends implementing the program in phases starting with pilot programs in select schools and includes the Hawaii State Youth Commission in program development and evaluation.
HR 19 is a House Resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Health to form a Hospice Working Group. The group will study national and Hawaii-specific hospice industry trends, regulations, and quality concerns - including fraud risks and outcomes data - to prepare for the state's aging population (projected 1 in 4 residents over 60 by 2035). The resolution specifies the group’s composition (including health agency leaders and existing hospice providers from all major counties) and requires a 2027 report with recommendations for regulatory improvements. It does not create new laws but aims to inform future policy decisions affecting hospice care access and quality.
This House Resolution (HR 7) urges Hawaii counties to approve or deny building permit applications for home safety modifications within 45 days of receiving a complete application. It specifically targets modifications prescribed by healthcare providers for older adults (62+) or people with disabilities, such as ramps or grab bars, when deemed essential for safety or health. The resolution does not create new law but recommends a 45-day timeline to reduce delays causing fall risks and hospitalizations. It applies directly to county permitting departments and affected residents seeking urgent home modifications. (Note: As a non-binding resolution, it relies on voluntary county action, not enforcement.)
