HB 1118 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO NON-MEDICAL EXEMPTIONS TO IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS.

HB 1118 prohibits new non-medical immunization exemptions (such as religious or philosophical exemptions) for school-aged children in Hawaii. It directly affects parents seeking exemptions for their children and school districts enforcing vaccination requirements. The bill's key provision bans the creation of any new non-medical exemptions, though existing exemptions remain valid. It will take effect on July 1, 3000 (a placeholder date likely indicating future implementation). This policy change aims to strengthen school immunization standards by limiting exemption options.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1118_HD1 → HB1118_HD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill update primarily involves administrative metadata changes, such as updating the bill version number from HD1 to HD2 and adjusting internal tracking dates. Substantively, the text was reorganized to clarify that students with individualized education programs retain access to special education services, and a medical exemption certificate process was slightly rephrased to include 'advanced practice registered nurse' alongside physicians. No new funding, eligibility criteria, or enforcement mechanisms were introduced.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on immunization exemptions and special education access; the changes are editorial clarifications rather than substantive policy expansions or restrictions.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata including version number (HD1 to HD2) and internal tracking dates.

REQUIREMENT

Rephrased a section to explicitly confirm that students with individualized education programs are not barred from accessing required special education services.

DEFINITION

Adjusted the list of qualified medical professionals who can issue immunization exemption certificates to explicitly include advanced practice registered nurses.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Recommitted to JHA with none voting no and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Hashem, Takayama; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Poepoe, Belatti; 3 Noes: Representative(s) Perruso, Garcia, Shimizu; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Kahaloa, Todd.

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 532) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Olds; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HLT, JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors