Healthcare

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 2289: RELATING TO CERTIFICATES OF NEED.

Exempts from the certificate of need requirements certain health care facilities and services that provide certain health care services, serve federally designated medically underserved rural areas, lower patient costs, are unlikely to be overprescribed, and assist certain vulnerable populations. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts maternal/pediatric health facilities, rural services, and vulnerable populations from CON requirements to lower costs and improve access, aligning with healthcare access and affordability indicators.85% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 854: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OF COMMITTED PERSONS.

Appropriates $500,000, for each year of the fiscal biennium to the department of corrections and rehabilitation to procure a new software for electronic record keeping of medical records. Requires a report to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $500k annually for corrections software, directly funding a state service via budget allocation, aligning with fiscal responsibility and essential program funding.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds software for mental health medical records in corrections, supporting rehabilitation efforts for committed persons.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates $500k for electronic medical records software in corrections, improving mental health record-keeping and access for committed persons.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 1731: RELATING TO COMMUNITY CARE FOSTER FAMILY HOMES.

Clarifies that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who meet an intermediate care facility or nursing facility level of care shall not be denied residency in a licensed community care foster family home solely because of their disability or enrollment in a specific medicaid waiver program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures Medicaid waiver participants access foster homes, preventing denial based on disability or Medicaid status, supporting healthcare access for disabled individuals.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing discrimination against disabled individuals in foster homes, directly protecting tenant rights and ensuring housing access per topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Tags People with Disabilities

Track

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 1591: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer‑based supervised clinical training rotation" applicable to the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit 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 physician assistants, dietitians, 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 representatives of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for healthcare preceptors, providing tax relief to incentivize provider participation in clinical training programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax credit eligibility for healthcare preceptors (including PAs/social workers), removing barriers to increase provider training and accessibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Primary Care

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 625: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

HB 625 establishes a state-funded incentive program to attract and retain nationally certified school psychologists in public schools. It directly affects qualified school psychologists by providing financial incentives through appropriated state funds. The bill creates a mechanism where eligible psychologists receive annual payments upon meeting certification and employment requirements. The program is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000, and recently passed the Education Committee with 10 supportive votes. This is a funding-based policy change focused on addressing staffing needs in school mental health services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for school psychologist incentive program, directly funding a public education service via budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates state-funded incentives to attract/retain certified school psychologists, directly advancing educator support through financial means.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds school psychologists via state incentives, directly supporting mental health services in educational settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1698: RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires health insurance carriers to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance contracts from including anti-assignment clauses that restrict or invalidate a patient's right to assign benefits. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and take enforcement action to ensure compliance. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to publish an annual summary. Allows providers to bring civil actions to compel payment and obtain injunctive relief, damages, interest, and attorneys' fees for violations. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Requires insurers to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to honor patient benefit assignments to substance use disorder providers, removing barriers to treatment access and protecting patient rights under insurance coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3175: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE MARKET OVERSIGHT.

Establishes a state oversight framework for material health care mergers, acquisitions, and other consolidation transactions. Requires advance notice and public interest review by the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Requires legislative approval, by concurrent resolution, of certain vertically integrated health care transactions that meet specified market share and pricing impact thresholds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates oversight for health care mergers to prevent anti-competitive pricing and protect public interest, aligning with patient access and market competition goals.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

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

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1242: RELATING TO NURSES.

Requires and appropriates moneys for the establishment of a 5-year nurse recertification pilot program to be administered by the Department of Health. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys for the Department of Health to award scholarships to eligible nursing students who agree to teach nursing in Hawaii after graduating.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds nurse recertification pilot and nursing student scholarships, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and access to nursing services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1978: RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

HB 1978 allocates state funds for planning, design, site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona, Hawaii. The bill directly affects residents in the North Kona area who rely on outpatient health services, aiming to expand access to care. Key provisions include funding specific phases of the facility's development, from initial planning to physical construction. This is a funding measure focused on infrastructure, not a policy change affecting broader healthcare regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for outpatient care center construction, directly funding public health infrastructure through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds for outpatient care center construction, expanding healthcare access in North Kona per bill summary.95% confidence

Track