Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 323: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Authorizes a person intoxicated by alcohol, under the influence of drugs, or incapacitated by substances, including a minor, to voluntarily admit themself to a psychiatric facility or a behavioral health crisis center for an emergency evaluation to determine need for treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes voluntary mental health crisis admission, improving access to emergency evaluation and treatment for substance-related incapacitation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2570: RELATING TO SPORTS WAGERING.

Allows for the regulation of sports wagering by the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism. Establishes licensing requirements for sports wagering operators and sports wagering suppliers. Establishes a general excise tax to be levied on sports wagering operator licenses. Establishes the Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund to be administered and expended by the Department of Health. Specifies that legal sports wagering and fantasy sports contests shall not be considered contests of chance or gambling. Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to perform criminal history record checks on applicants and licensees relating to sports wagering. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes general excise tax on sports wagering operators to fund Problem Gambling Prevention Special Fund, creating new tax revenue for public health program.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Problem Gambling Prevention and Treatment Special Fund under DOH, directly funding mental health services related to gambling.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

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passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 1970: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CANCER CENTER.

HB 1970 provides funding for the University of Hawaii Cancer Center's Hawaii Tumor Registry, which tracks cancer cases across the state. The bill directly supports the Cancer Center by enabling its data collection and analysis efforts. Key provisions include appropriating state funds to maintain and expand the registry's operations for cancer surveillance. This policy change focuses on strengthening statewide cancer data systems without altering patient care protocols or insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for Hawaii Tumor Registry operations, directly funding a public health program per bill's summary and subjects.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds Hawaii Tumor Registry for cancer surveillance, directly supporting public health data collection and cancer surveillance programs without altering care protocols.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 2589: RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

Establishes the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill appropriates funds to establish dementia care specialists and the HANAI program, directly funding healthcare services for Alzheimer's patients under state public health initiatives.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 2, 2026

HB 2510: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2510 creates an income tax credit for employers who provide paid family and medical leave to their employees. The bill directly affects businesses that offer this benefit, reducing their state income tax liability based on the leave provided. Key provisions establish a specific credit amount tied to the cost of providing paid leave, incentivizing employers to adopt such policies without mandating it. This policy change modifies tax incentives to encourage broader employer-sponsored leave coverage.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit for employers offering paid leave, reducing state tax liability to incentivize policy adoption. Directly modifies tax incentives as a fiscal tool.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncentivizes employer-provided medical leave, improving access to healthcare services by reducing financial barriers for employees seeking treatment.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentTax credit incentivizes employers to provide paid family/medical leave, directly expanding worker benefits without mandating it.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax Tax Credits Paid Leave

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 3232: RELATING TO UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS.

SB 3232 creates a special fund within the Department of Education to manage Medicaid reimbursements received for school meals. This bill does not change who receives meals or the meal program itself, but instead establishes a dedicated account for handling existing Medicaid reimbursement funds. The key mechanism is redirecting these reimbursements into the new special fund, streamlining how the state tracks and uses this specific revenue source. The bill focuses solely on administrative fund management, not on expanding or altering school meal eligibility or services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRedirects Medicaid reimbursements for school meals into a dedicated fund, ensuring proper healthcare funding management for nutrition programs tied to public health initiatives.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3315: RELATING TO CANNABIS.

Allows applicants or primary caregivers to make a one-time purchase of medical cannabis after the submission of the applicant's certification form while waiting for confirmation of registration from the Department of Health. Requires the Office of Medical Cannabis Control and Regulation to facilitate the temporary authorization. Effective 3/22/2075. (SD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFacilitates temporary medical cannabis access for patients awaiting registration, improving healthcare access for treatment options under DOH oversight.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2184: RELATING TO STUDENT ACCESS TO TELEHEALTH SERVICES.

Requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and distribute to each public middle and high school in the State guidelines for the establishment and operation of safe spaces for students to access telehealth services on school property during normal school hours. Requires each public middle and high school to establish and maintain a safe space for students according to the guidelines.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates safe spaces for telehealth access in schools, enhancing student mental health support and educational access during school hours.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school telehealth access points, expanding student mental health service availability during school hours per bill's requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety Student Health Mental Health Telehealth

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 28, 2026

HB 2066: RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

HB 2066 creates a process for this state to join the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. If adopted, it would allow licensed psychologists to practice across state lines without needing separate licenses in each state. This primarily affects psychologists seeking multi-state practice and their out-of-state clients, enabling streamlined service delivery. The bill does not change current licensing rules but authorizes the state to participate in an existing interstate agreement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables cross-state practice for psychologists, improving mental health service access without new funding, aligning with support indicators for patient access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 3057: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Clarifies that the Department of Health is to presume both the recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the recommendations by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States Department of Health and Human Services constitute the prevailing medical standard for child health supervision services for purposes of health insurance coverage.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures health insurance coverage aligns with AAP and ACIP medical standards, preventing denials for recommended child health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Insurance

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