HB 1597 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS RESEARCH.

Summary

Establishes and appropriates funds for an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Research Center at the University of Hawaii, to be administratively affiliated with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, including the establishment of full-time positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB1597 → HB1597_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change the name of the research entity from a 'unit' to a 'center' and to standardize the capitalization of university names throughout the text. The most significant substantive change is the appropriation amount, which was reduced from a specific sum of $375,000 to a blank line, indicating that the exact funding amount will be determined later. Additionally, the effective date of the bill was moved from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, likely as a placeholder or error.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability remains focused on establishing an Alzheimer's research center at the University of Hawaii, but the specific funding mechanism has been altered to allow for future determination of the amount.

FISCAL

The specific appropriation amount was removed and replaced with a blank line, changing the funding from a fixed $375,000 to an undetermined amount.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the legislation was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

DEFINITION

The name of the research entity was updated from 'research unit' to 'research center' to align with federal designation standards.

TECHNICAL

University names were standardized to lowercase (e.g., 'University of Hawaii' to 'university of Hawaii') throughout the document.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House. No roll call record of that vote is available.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 553-26), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Olds.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 125-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HLT.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HED, HLT, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors