HCR 18 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A HOSPICE WORKING GROUP TO EXAMINE TRENDS AND REGULATIONS IN THE HOSPICE INDUSTRY.

HCR 18 is a concurrent resolution requesting Hawaii's Department of Health to form a Hospice Working Group to examine trends and regulations in the hospice industry. The group, composed of health officials and five established Hawaii hospices (representing each major county), will study national and local hospice trends, review existing regulations, and recommend improvements to ensure quality care as Hawaii's aging population grows. This resolution directly affects Hawaii's 13 hospice providers and the state's future healthcare planning for seniors, with a report due to the Legislature by early 2027. It does not change current laws but seeks data to inform potential future policy adjustments.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Last action May 8, 2026

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What changed between versions

HCR18 → HCR18_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill was amended to change the leadership structure of the new hospice working group, shifting co-chair authority from the Department of Health Director to the Chairs of the House and Senate health committees. The amendment also updated the list of recipients for the resolution's certified copies to include the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, ensuring proper legislative notification. These changes formalize bipartisan legislative oversight of the study rather than relying solely on the executive branch.

Scope change

The scope of the working group's leadership changed from executive-led to jointly legislative-led, while the scope of the resolution's distribution was expanded to include legislative officers.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the Department of Health Director as the sole co-chair with the Chairs of the House and Senate health committees serving as co-chairs.

Changed the selection authority for hospice members from the Department of Health Director to the new co-chairs.

MODIFIED

Updated the list of entities receiving certified copies of the resolution to include the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

lower

May 8, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted as amended in SD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Hussey, Kong, Quinlan excused (3).

lower

May 8, 2026

Introduced

House agrees to Senate amendment(s).

lower

Apr 24, 2026

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 744) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 24, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3892) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 04-17-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS.

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 536).

upper

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1924-26), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa, Reyes Oda.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to FIN, referral sheet 22

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 15

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Introduced

To be offered.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors