Healthcare

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 1574: RELATING TO THE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

Formally codifies the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program. Requires a participant in the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program who receives a new award on or after July 1, 2027, to remain and work in the State for a certain number of years based on the amount of financial assistance received. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill incentivizes healthcare professionals to remain in-state via loan repayment tied to service duration, strengthening workforce retention and access to care.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 2261: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Requires Huli Au Ola to conduct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention to be located on and serve the island of Molokai. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates funds for Huli Au Ola to study physician/dentist retention on Molokai, directly addressing healthcare workforce access to strengthen services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SCR 140: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO ADOPT ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING AS A PRIMARY STRATEGY TO ADDRESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION AND IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY STATEWIDE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution in Hawaii asks the Department of Education to study how mental health-related absences affect student attendance and well-being. The study will examine how often students miss school due to mental or behavioral health concerns, review policies in other states that allow such absences, and evaluate whether recognizing these absences as excused could improve student outcomes. The Department of Education is requested to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026, which may include suggestions for policy or legislative changes. This measure does not change current laws but seeks to gather data to inform future decisions about student attendance policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill seeks to study mental health-related absences to improve student well-being and attendance, potentially expanding support for student health needs in education.75% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill requests study on mental health-related absences to potentially improve student outcomes and recognize mental health needs, indicating support for mental health services.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 709: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Requires the Director of Law Enforcement to adopt rules establishing training and certification standards and procedures for crisis intervention officers. Requires the Department of Health to approve the content of such training. Clarifies the scope of treatment permitted under assisted community treatment orders. Requires the Department of the Attorney General to assist with the preparation, filing, and presentation of requests for a court order to provide treatment over a patient's objection. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires DOH to track mental health crisis data and coordinate assisted treatment, strengthening mental health service infrastructure and patient access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 3133: RELATING TO PREVENTIVE MEDICINE.

Specifies that no person is subject to liability for providing clinical preventive services in accordance with Department of Health recommendations. Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, health maintenance organizations, and plans issued by the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund to provide coverage for clinical preventive services. Authorizes the Department of Health to make recommendations relating to clinical preventive services and issue standing orders for medications and immunizations. Clarifies that, for child health supervision services coverage, the prevailing medical standards include recommendations by the Department of Health. Prohibits denial of coverage and prior authorization for clinical preventive services based on medical necessity. Specifies that a registered pharmacist may order a vaccine in accordance with the recommendations from the Department of Health. Exempts this measure from an Auditor impact assessment report. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage without cost-sharing for preventive services, expanding access and strengthening public health initiatives through DOH recommendations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 16, 2026

SB 2804: RELATING TO COMMERCE.

SB 2804 bars companies from acquiring or holding stocks or investments that reduce access to healthcare services or raise insurance premiums. It directly affects corporations and investment entities making such financial decisions. The key provision prohibits these specific stock holdings if they demonstrably harm healthcare affordability or availability. The bill aims to prevent corporate investment practices that negatively impact patients and insurance costs, without specifying enforcement details.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBars corporate investments harming healthcare access/affordability, directly advancing patient access and reducing insurance costs per bill's core provision.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 1279: RELATING TO PHARMACISTS.

Authorizes a registered pharmacist under contract with a covered entity for purposes of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program to supervise the filling or receipt of a prescription via telehealth in certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes pharmacists to supervise telehealth prescriptions under 340B, expanding access for medically underserved patients via telepharmacy.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 298: RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES.

SB 298 would allocate additional state funds to the Department of Human Services to expand Medicaid in-home care services. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries requiring in-home support, such as elderly or disabled individuals, by increasing access to these services. The bill's key provision is a funding increase for existing in-home care programs under Medicaid, effective July 1, 3000. It is currently pending committee review in the Health and Human Services committee.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates additional state funds to expand Medicaid in-home care, increasing government spending on public services per appropriation subject.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allocates additional state funds to expand Medicaid in-home care services, directly increasing access to healthcare for elderly/disabled beneficiaries through enhanced funding.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 1308: RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Law Enforcement. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Establishes a general excise tax to be levied on sports wagering operator licenses. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Health. Specifies that legal sports wagering and fantasy sports contests shall not be considered contests of chance or gambling. Authorizes DLE to perform criminal history record checks on applicants and licensees relating to sports wagering. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes general excise tax on sports wagering operators and funds Problem Gambling Prevention Special Fund, directly advancing tax revenue allocation for public health programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund administered by DOH, directly funding healthcare services for gambling-related mental health treatment.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 1449: RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

Requires utilization review entities to submit data relating to the prior authorization of health care services to the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Establishes the Health Care Appropriateness and Necessity Working Group within the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates data reporting and establishes working group to assess prior authorization appropriateness, aiming to improve patient access and reduce unnecessary care delays in healthcare system.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

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