Healthcare

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1426: RELATING TO EMERGENCY AEROMEDICAL SERVICES.

Appropriates funds to the counties to increase access to emergency aeromedical services. Appropriates funds into and out of the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund to the Department of Health for the establishment and operating expenses for emergency aeromedical services. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds to increase access to emergency aeromedical services, directly funding critical healthcare access and expanding emergency medical services coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1591: RELATING TO AVIAN INFLUENZA.

SB 1591 allocates state funds to Hawaii's Department of Health and Department of Agriculture to prevent, monitor, and respond to avian influenza outbreaks. The bill directly affects public health and agricultural sectors in Hawaii by providing resources for disease surveillance, rapid response efforts, and prevention measures. Key provisions include funding for testing, containment strategies, and coordination between health and agriculture agencies to protect both human and animal health. This represents a concrete policy change focused on strengthening Hawaii's preparedness for avian influenza threats.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates state funds to DOH for avian influenza surveillance/response, directly funding public health programs to protect human health through disease prevention and rapid response efforts.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1070: RELATING TO HEALTHCARE PRECEPTORS.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer-based supervised clinical training rotation" to improve accessibility for providers to receive income tax credits for acting as preceptors, including removing "primary care" from the criteria to qualify as a preceptor. Adds dieticians, physician assistants, and social workers to the list of preceptors and eligible students. Expands eligibility for the tax credit to include accredited residency programs that require preceptor support. Adds the Director of Health and residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2025. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for healthcare preceptors, providing tax relief to providers and increasing access to training programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax credits for healthcare preceptors including new professions, removing primary care restrictions to increase provider training accessibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 963: RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Requires the Department of Human Services to: (1) Prorate or exclude certain income from household members who are ineligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in determining SNAP household eligibility and benefit levels; (2) Establish a standardized medical expense deduction option for elderly or disabled household members who incur medical expenses above the federal minimum threshold; (3) Establish a pre-release SNAP application process for individuals who are incarcerated and scheduled for release; and submit annual reports to the Legislature. Specifies that the restriction under federal law prohibiting individuals convicted of certain drug-related felonies from receiving SNAP benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits does not apply in Hawaii. Repeals treatment compliance requirements for TANF benefits. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes medical expense deduction for elderly/disabled, improving SNAP access for healthcare cost burdens85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1043: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 1043 reduces the general excise tax rate on nonprescription drugs by 50%. This change directly affects consumers who purchase nonprescription medications, lowering their out-of-pocket costs. The bill's key provision is halving the existing tax rate, effective July 1, 3000. It does not alter other tax rates or create new government programs. The bill passed a committee recommendation with four supportive votes in February 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesReduces excise tax on nonprescription drugs, providing direct tax relief to consumers, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces excise tax on nonprescription drugs, lowering consumer costs and improving access to essential healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 642: RELATING TO INSURANCE.

Requires all health insurance policies, contracts, plans, and agreements issued or renewed after 12/31/2025, to provide optional coverage for standard fertility preservation services for persons undergoing medically necessary cancer-related treatments that may cause iatrogenic infertility. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates optional fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients in insurance plans, expanding access to medically necessary reproductive health services under healthcare coverage.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1439: RELATING TO NUISANCES.

Clarifies that the Department of Health has the legal authority and obligation to prevent and address nuisances that affect environmental health or public health, or both. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentClarifies DOH authority to address environmental health nuisances, strengthening regulatory capacity for pollution prevention and public health protection.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies DOH's authority to address public health nuisances, strengthening enforcement of health protections under public health programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1423: RELATING TO AMENDING SECTION 323D-54, HAWAII REVISED STATUTES, TO EXEMPT THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FROM CERTIFICATE OF NEED REQUIREMENTS.

Exempts health care facilities operated or services provided by the Department of Health, chronic renal dialysis centers, and psychiatric behavioral health services from the State Health Planning and Development Agency's certificate of need requirements. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts DOH, dialysis centers, and psychiatric services from certificate of need requirements, reducing regulatory barriers and improving access to healthcare services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1494: RELATING TO HEARING AIDS.

Requires health insurance policies and contracts issued on or after 1/1/2026 to provide optional coverage for the cost of hearing aids at a minimum $1,500 per hearing aid for each hearing-impaired ear every thirty-six months. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for hearing aids, expanding access to a specific healthcare service and aligning with coverage expansion indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1040: RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT.

Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to conduct a study on the cost and feasibility of establishing a program to acquire and forgive medical debt owed by certain households in the State. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 12/31/2050. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStudy on forgiving medical debt directly improves healthcare access by reducing financial barriers for households, aligning with support indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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