Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 905: RELATING TO AMBULANCES.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to purchase of one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in central Maui, fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel, and increase the predictability and stability of available air ambulance services for all islands in the State. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds for ambulance services, personnel costs, and air ambulance network, directly strengthening emergency medical healthcare infrastructure.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2468: RELATING TO TAXATION.

SB 2468 would impose an additional tax (a surcharge) on individuals with taxable income exceeding $1,000,000. The revenue generated would fund the State Medicaid Program, but only if the Legislature approves the surcharge. This bill directly affects high-income earners by increasing their tax obligation. The measure is currently in early committee review stages and requires legislative approval to become law.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes surcharge on high earners to fund Medicaid, directly advancing state healthcare funding through targeted taxation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds State Medicaid Program via income surcharge on high earners, directly supporting healthcare access for low-income residents.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Income Tax State Budget Medicaid

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 299: RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS.

SB 299 allocates state funds to the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program, helping healthcare professionals repay student loans. It directly affects licensed healthcare workers (like nurses or doctors) who agree to work in underserved areas of the state. The bill provides financial assistance through the existing program, requiring participants to serve in designated high-need communities. The measure is currently under review by the Health and Human Services committee, with a public hearing scheduled for February 10, 2025. It is set to take effect on July 1, 3000.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds to healthcare loan repayment program, increasing budget appropriation for workforce development in underserved areas.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to repay healthcare professionals' loans in underserved areas, enhancing workforce access and retention in critical communities.95% confidence

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 2425: RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires health insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance policies, plans, contracts, and agreements from including anti-assignment clauses that restrict or invalidate a patient's right to assign benefits. Authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules and take enforcement action to ensure compliance. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the business of insurance. Requires insurers, mutual benefit societies, and health maintenance organizations to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to honor patient assignments to substance use disorder providers, improving access to mental health treatment and protecting patient rights under healthcare coverage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Substance Abuse

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 557: RELATING TO HEALTH.

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)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds for a study on physician/dentist retention to improve healthcare access on Molokai, directly advancing healthcare workforce stability.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 602: RELATING TO THE MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS.

Establishes a licensing system for medical cannabis cultivation. Facilitates the transport of medical cannabis. Expands the scope of authorized actions for medical cannabis patients. Provides that qualifying out-of-state patients need not register with the Department of Health. Protects medical cannabis patients and cultivation licenses from undue discrimination.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands medical cannabis access for patients, removes out-of-state registration barriers, and protects against discrimination, directly improving patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 828: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION MEDICAL BENEFITS.

Expands workers' compensation medical benefits for firefighters to include coverage for adenocarcinoma or mesothelioma of the respiratory system; cancer of the buccal cavity, colon, pharynx, and thyroid; and malignant melanoma. Specifies that an employer may prove that the cancer or disease was not associated with the firefighting duties to deny medical benefits under workers' compensation law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands workers' comp medical coverage for firefighters' cancer treatments, directly increasing healthcare access for a specific high-risk group.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' comp medical benefits for firefighters to cover specific job-related cancers, directly advancing worker health protections under Labor & Employment.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 3202: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Amends the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit to remove language limiting access only to those practicing in primary care, to add licensed dietitians, physician assistants, and social workers as eligible preceptors and students, and to include residency and followship programs. Adds the Director of Health and a representative of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility to dietitians, PAs, and social workers, providing broader tax relief and increasing access to the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax credit eligibility to include dietitians, PAs, and social workers, strengthening healthcare workforce development and access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Primary Care

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 480: RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination and refer an injured employee for the examination without first obtaining permission from the employee's employer. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows physicians to refer injured workers for functional capacity exams without employer permission, improving access to healthcare services for workplace injury cases.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves employer permission barrier for medical exams, streamlining access to workers' compensation evaluations and protecting injured workers' rights under compensation process.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 887: RELATING TO PREVAILING WAGES.

HB 887 requires human services providers - such as agencies offering childcare, elder care, or mental health services - to pay employees the local prevailing wage rate for similar work. This means providers must pay wages determined by local labor market standards, not lower rates. The bill directly affects organizations employing workers in these service sectors by mandating fair compensation aligned with regional wage norms. It does not specify enforcement details or exceptions, focusing solely on establishing this wage requirement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires fair wages for mental health service providers, strengthening workforce stability and service quality in healthcare sectors.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates prevailing wage rates for human services workers, ensuring fair compensation aligned with local labor standards and directly protecting workers' pay rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Mental Health Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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