This bill informs the Hawaii Legislature that the Governor signed Act 107 into law on June 8, 2026. The legislation requires all new law enforcement officers hired after June 30, 2028, to complete specific training in areas such as de-escalation, mental health response, and implicit bias before being employed. Additionally, the law mandates that these officers must receive official certification from the state board starting July 1, 2028, unless they have completed an equivalent program in another jurisdiction. The act applies to hiring practices across various county police departments and state agencies, including the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of the Attorney General.
This bill, signed into law by the Governor on June 8, 2026, allows licensed home health agencies in Hawaii to avoid routine state inspections if they hold current accreditation or certification from organizations approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. To qualify for this exemption, agencies must provide the Department of Health with official reports proving they maintain full accreditation and hold a valid state license. While routine inspections are waived, the Department of Health retains the authority to investigate any agency with complaints, negative accreditation findings, or during periodic validation surveys, and all survey reports from these external organizations will be made public.
This bill, signed into law on June 24, 2026, streamlines the workers' compensation process in Hawaii by allowing attending physicians to automatically request functional capacity examinations without needing prior approval from insurance companies or employers. These examinations are designed to assess an injured worker's physical abilities and determine their capacity to return to work with or without accommodations once they have reached medical stabilization. The law also expands the definition of qualified health care providers to include various specialists and ensures that employers cover the costs of these exams while requiring timely reporting of results to both the physician and the employer.
This bill reorganizes the Department of Health's legal authority to regulate food, drugs, and cosmetics by consolidating it into a single chapter of state law. The primary goal is to clarify the department's role in regulating both retail food safety and higher-volume food manufacturing to improve public health outcomes. It also establishes a new food safety consultative and education program to share information with handlers and creates a public monitoring system for reporting unsafe food practices. Additionally, the legislation provides specific exemptions for producers of hand-pounded poi selling directly to consumers and mandates priority processing for permit applications related to agricultural facilities on important agricultural lands.
This bill directs the Director of Finance to move approximately $47.2 million from various state special funds into the general fund for fiscal year 2026-2027. The transfer includes balances from diverse areas such as tobacco enforcement, mental health services, and tax administration that exceed their specific annual requirements. The legislation aims to create a financial reserve to help the state maintain essential services if federal funding decreases or economic conditions worsen. It explicitly states that these transfers must not harm the state's ability to receive federal aid or meet existing contracts and bond obligations.
This bill establishes a new advisory committee to oversee emergency medical services in Hawaii, directly affecting state agencies and local healthcare providers. The committee will consist of twenty members, including three non-voting officials, seventeen county representatives, and specific experts in emergency medicine, pediatrics, allied health, and emergency medical technology. All members will serve without pay but will receive reimbursement for necessary travel and other expenses, and the group will operate by majority vote. The legislation takes effect on July 1, 2026, creating a structured body to advise on the delivery and conduct of emergency care across the state.
This bill directs the State of Hawaii to allocate $1,750,000 from general revenues for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to purchase an advanced life support ambulance and related equipment for the central Maui area. The funds will also cover the pay-related costs for hiring one state-certified emergency medical technician and one state-certified paramedic to staff the new vehicle. The Department of Health is responsible for expending these funds, and the law takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes a new statewide air medical services program within the Hawaii Department of Health to improve the coordination and oversight of emergency air transport across the islands. The legislation creates three permanent, full-time positions - a state air medical director, a program manager, and an air medical coordinator - to ensure dedicated staff for clinical oversight, policy development, and operational management. These roles will work to standardize care protocols, streamline transport times, and enhance disaster readiness by integrating air medical services with broader emergency response systems. The program is designed to address current structural gaps that have led to fragmented coordination and prolonged transport times for patients in rural and remote areas.
This bill establishes a new office within the Department of Health to certify community behavioral health clinics and provide them with technical assistance. The legislation creates an oversight board and a certifying office staffed by specific roles like a quality manager and data engineer to manage these clinics. The new office will set certification standards that meet or exceed federal requirements, administer a fixed payment system for services, and monitor clinic compliance. Clinics that meet these criteria will be officially certified to ensure consistent access to mental health and substance use services across the state.
This bill formally notifies the Hawaii Legislature that Governor Josh Green signed HB2319 into law on May 27, 2026. The legislation amends state statutes to update the definition of health care and expand the responsibilities of the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Key changes include a broader definition of health care that explicitly covers oral, behavioral, and long-term care, as well as new duties for the agency to assess gaps in access, quality, and cost, including the use of artificial intelligence. The bill also mandates that the agency update the state health services and facilities plan at least every four years after consulting with relevant councils.
