Healthcare

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

Track

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

Track

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jun 9, 2026

SB 2272: RELATING TO HOME HEALTH LICENSING.

Authorizes the Department of Health to accept accreditation or certification from an accreditation organization or a certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as demonstration that a licensed home health agency is in compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State. Specifies conditions under which a home health agency may be exempt from a licensing inspection on a continuing basis throughout the accreditation or certification period. Requires information obtained in reports of survey and accreditation or certification letters to be public information. (CD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines home health agency licensing via CMS accreditation, reducing regulatory burden to support service delivery and compliance efficiency.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 598: RELATING TO HEALTH.

HB 598 prohibits insurance companies from requiring patients to pay copays, deductibles, or other cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams ordered by doctors to investigate concerns or monitor conditions. This directly affects patients needing these specific exams, such as follow-up tests after abnormal mammograms. The bill mandates that insurers cover these exams fully without patient cost-sharing, applying only to diagnostic and supplemental procedures - not routine screenings. It represents a policy change to reduce financial barriers for medically necessary breast examinations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates full insurance coverage without cost-sharing for diagnostic breast exams, expanding coverage and improving patient access to necessary care, directly supporting healthcare access.90% confidence

Track

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 1449: RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

Requires utilization review entities to submit data relating to the prior authorization of health care services to the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Establishes the Health Care Appropriateness and Necessity Working Group within the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates data reporting and establishes working group to assess prior authorization appropriateness, aiming to improve patient access and reduce unnecessary care delays in healthcare system.85% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 1, 2026

HCR 4: URGING THE GOVERNOR TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT TRANSGENDER MEMBERS OF THE HAWAIʻI NATIONAL GUARD FROM DISCRIMINATORY FEDERAL POLICY AND PERMIT QUALIFIED TRANSGENDER SERVICE MEMBERS TO CONTINUE THEIR SERVICE.

HCR 4 is a symbolic resolution urging Hawaii's Governor to protect transgender members of the Hawaii National Guard from federal policies that bar transgender service members. It references Executive Order 14163, which prohibits transgender individuals from serving in the military and halts gender-affirming care for active-duty personnel. The resolution does not change laws or policies but formally requests the Governor take action to allow qualified transgender service members to continue serving. It directly affects transgender Hawaii National Guard members facing potential discharge under federal policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill references federal policy halting gender-affirming care (a healthcare service) and seeks to protect transgender service members' access to it by opposing the policy.80% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2713: RELATING TO PESTICIDE BUFFER ZONES.

Beginning 1/1/2027, prohibits the application of restricted use pesticides within a half-mile radius of elderly health care facilities, with certain exemptions. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRestricts pesticide use near facilities, reducing environmental pollution and protecting ecosystems from chemical runoff per bill's prohibition of restricted pesticides within half-mile zones.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits pesticides near elderly healthcare facilities to protect resident health, directly advancing healthcare safety protections.95% confidence

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