Healthcare

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1070: RELATING TO THERAPY SERVICES.

Expands the scopes of practice for occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech pathologists to allow those professionals working for or contracted by the Department of Education to diagnose medical conditions that can be treated with their respective services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands therapists' diagnostic authority within healthcare services, improving patient access to treatment without additional referrals.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 112: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line to provide mental health support in non-emergency situations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for mental health warm line, increasing public service funding under budget category.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health warm line via DOH appropriation, directly expanding non-emergency mental health access and support services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1754: RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX.

Exempts food and groceries from the general excise tax. Expands the general excise tax exemption implemented in 2024 for certain medical and dental services to include all medical and dental services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExempts food, groceries, and medical/dental services from excise tax, providing direct tax relief to lower-income households.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts all medical/dental services from excise tax, reducing costs and improving access to healthcare services per the bill's expansion of tax exemptions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Sales Tax Tax Incentives

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2242: RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

SB 2242 enacts the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, authorizing the Governor to join this multi-state agreement. It directly affects licensed psychologists who wish to practice across state lines in participating jurisdictions. The key provision establishes standardized licensing rules and professional standards, allowing psychologists to provide services in other compact states without obtaining separate licenses. This reduces administrative barriers for practitioners and expands access to mental health services in participating states. The bill does not change existing state licensing laws but enables participation in the interstate compact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill standardizes licensing for psychologists across states, reducing barriers and expanding access to mental health services - directly advancing healthcare access per indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2287: RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to contract with community-based organizations to provide preventive and early intervention mental health services to adolescents within the community. Requires a report to the Legislature.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAppropriates funds for adolescent mental health prevention and early intervention services via community organizations, directly funding healthcare access and strengthening mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 62: RELATING TO HEALTHCARE FACILITY NURSE STAFFING.

HB 62 sets minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for hospitals and long-term care homes, requiring specific staffing levels based on patient acuity. It directly affects healthcare facilities by mandating these ratios and requires the Department of Health to conduct compliance audits. The bill's key provision is establishing enforceable staffing standards, with audits ensuring facilities meet the required nurse-to-patient ratios. This legislation aims to standardize staffing levels without specifying penalties or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates enforceable nurse-to-patient ratios and compliance audits to improve patient safety and care standards in healthcare facilities, directly strengthening staffing requirements.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentEnforces minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, directly improving workplace safety for nurses and protecting their rights through mandatory compliance audits by the Department of Health.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Long-Term Care

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2472: RELATING TO HEALTH.

Expands statutory provisions that provide for religious exemptions from medical examinations, immunizations, vaccinations, and revaccinations to protect parents and other persons with bona fide religious tenets and practices.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareExpands religious exemptions for vaccines, reducing mandatory immunization requirements and weakening public health vaccination programs.85% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1565: RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE.

SB 1565 recognizes licensed acupuncture practitioners as essential healthcare providers subject to state regulation. This bill directly affects acupuncturists by formally classifying them within the healthcare system, requiring them to operate under established state oversight. The key provision establishes that acupuncture services are recognized as part of essential healthcare, meaning practitioners must meet state licensing and regulatory standards. This change ensures acupuncture falls under the same oversight as other regulated health professions, impacting how these providers are authorized and monitored.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClassifies acupuncture as essential healthcare under state regulation, strengthening its integration into the healthcare system.90% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 19, 2026

SB 2277: RELATING TO HOSPITAL PRICE TRANSPARENCY.

Requires each hospital licensed in the State to provide an annual attestation to the State Health Planning and Development Agency that the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Permits patients to file a counterclaim against debt collection actions filed by hospitals to determine if the hospital is in compliance with federal hospital price transparency requirements. Requires hospitals to provide patients with an easy-to-understand itemized bill statement before initiating a debt collection action against a patient. Effective 1/30/2050. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospital price transparency, protects patients with itemized bills and debt challenge process, aligns with healthcare access and consumer rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 2612: RELATING TO MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION IN SCHOOLS.

Clarifies that the Department of Education and its employees and agents shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability arising from assisting students with the administration of medication under certain circumstances.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies immunity for DOE staff administering school medication, enabling safer student care without legal barriers, thus supporting school health access and operational continuity.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill provides immunity for school staff administering medication, enabling consistent access to school health services without liability concerns, supporting student healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

Track