SB 557 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Summary

Requires Huli Au Ola to conduct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention to serve the island of Molokai. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB557 → SB557_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was converted from a House bill to a Senate bill, updating the bill number and metadata. The most significant substantive change is the effective date, which was moved from July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2050, likely indicating a placeholder or error in the draft. Additionally, the funding mechanism was clarified to specify that the appropriation is a grant under Chapter 42F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, and the description of the study was slightly shortened by removing the reference to the specific university department.

Scope change

The scope of the study remains focused on physician and dentist recruitment and retention for Molokai, but the funding is now explicitly defined as a grant under state statute rather than a direct university expenditure.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2050.

FISCAL

The funding provision was updated to specify that the money is appropriated as a grant pursuant to Chapter 42F of the Hawaii Revised Statutes.

REQUIREMENT

The requirement for the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine to direct the study was removed, making Huli Au Ola directly responsible for conducting the study.

TECHNICAL

The bill type was changed from SB (Senate Bill) to SD (Senate Draft), and associated metadata such as revision numbers and dates were updated.

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 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 224) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HRE, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.