SB 2491 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Summary

Establishes a broad definition of "qualified health care provider" in numerous areas of existing law. Clarifies and standardizes references to specific health care providers. Updates outdated language to reflect correct terminology. Makes numerous clarifying and conforming amendments to support these changes, including but not limited to chapters related to health, education, insurance, professions and vocations, the pain patient's bill of rights, the Uniform Probate Code, minors, the Child Protective Act, and the Penal Code. Repeals the obsolete Hawaii Health Corps. Effective 1/30/2050. Implementation effective 7/1/2028. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2491 → SB2491_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill fundamentally redefines 'qualified health care provider' across dozens of Hawaii statutes to include all licensed professionals under Titles 19 and 25, rather than limiting the term to specific professions like physicians or nurses. This change aims to remove barriers that prevent non-physician providers from practicing their full scope of services and ensures new license categories are automatically included in the definition without requiring constant legislative amendments.

Scope change

The bill expands the legal definition of 'qualified health care provider' from a narrow list of specific professions to a broad category encompassing all current and future licensed health care providers under state law, thereby increasing the applicability of these definitions to a wider range of practitioners.

DEFINITION

Replaced specific profession names (e.g., 'physician', 'physician assistant') with the broad term 'qualified health care provider' in over 50 sections across various chapters including health, education, insurance, and penal codes.

Added new definitions in Chapters 325, 88, 321, 324, and others to establish 'qualified health care provider' as any person with a current, active license or certification under Titles 19 or 25 whose scope of practice authorizes them to provide health care services.

REQUIREMENT

Removed restrictive language that previously limited certain rights, exemptions, or referrals to specific professions like physicians or osteopathic physicians, allowing other licensed providers to perform those functions.

Added a requirement to repeal the obsolete Hawaii Health Corps and established a primary health care incentive program to address medically underserved areas.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated eligibility criteria for benefits, exemptions, and services in areas such as medical aid for pensioners, firearm permit inquiries, and immunization programs to apply to the broader category of qualified health care providers.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2558) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 6, 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

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 2 co-sponsors