SB 2505 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO OPIOID USE DISORDER TREATMENT.

Summary

Authorizes licensed paramedics in a county with a population of 100,000 or less to administer buprenorphine after administration of an opioid antagonist in cases of opioid overdoses, under certain conditions. Requires the Department of Health to implement a two-year phased pilot program beginning in one county with a population of 100,000 or less and authorizes expansion of the program statewide as additional treatment resources become available. Requires a report to the Legislature evaluating program outcomes. Appropriates funds. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Feb 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB2505 → SB2505_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill amendment narrows the pilot program for paramedics to administer buprenorphine to only one county with a population of 100,000 or less, rather than allowing expansion to any county with verified treatment capacity. It also adds a specific appropriation of funds for the program and sets a sunset date of June 30, 2028, requiring the law to be repealed unless renewed. These changes aim to limit the initial rollout to a smaller, more manageable area while ensuring dedicated funding and a clear timeline for evaluation.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from a flexible phased pilot in counties with verified linkage capacity to a fixed pilot limited to a single county with a population of 100,000 or less.

SCOPE

The pilot program is now restricted to beginning in one county with a population of 100,000 or less, instead of starting in any county with verified linkage-to-care capacity.

FISCAL

A new section appropriates general revenues to the Department of Health to fund the implementation of the pilot program for fiscal year 2026-2027.

TIMELINE

The act now includes a sunset provision, requiring sections 2 and 3 to be repealed on June 30, 2028, unless re-enacted.

REQUIREMENT

The Department of Health is now required to implement a two-year phased pilot program, replacing the previous language about a phased program in one or more counties.

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

Feb 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 17, 2026

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2297) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to HHS, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-04-26 1:01PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors