Healthcare

passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 1591: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the definitions of "preceptor" and "volunteer‑based supervised clinical training rotation" applicable to the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit to improve accessibility for providers to receive income tax credits for acting as preceptors, including removing "primary care" from the criteria to qualify as a preceptor. Adds physician assistants, dietitians, and social workers to the list of preceptors and eligible students. Expands eligibility for the tax credit to include accredited residency programs that require preceptor support. Adds the Director of Health and representatives 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. (SD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility for healthcare preceptors, providing tax relief to incentivize provider participation in clinical training programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands tax credit eligibility for healthcare preceptors (including PAs/social workers), removing barriers to increase provider training and accessibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Primary Care

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 625: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

HB 625 establishes a state-funded incentive program to attract and retain nationally certified school psychologists in public schools. It directly affects qualified school psychologists by providing financial incentives through appropriated state funds. The bill creates a mechanism where eligible psychologists receive annual payments upon meeting certification and employment requirements. The program is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000, and recently passed the Education Committee with 10 supportive votes. This is a funding-based policy change focused on addressing staffing needs in school mental health services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for school psychologist incentive program, directly funding a public education service via budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates state-funded incentives to attract/retain certified school psychologists, directly advancing educator support through financial means.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds school psychologists via state incentives, directly supporting mental health services in educational settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Teachers Mental Health

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in committee · Hawaii · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 1698: RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Requires health insurance carriers to honor a patient's written assignment of benefits to a substance use disorder treatment provider. Prohibits health insurance contracts 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. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to publish an annual summary. Allows providers to bring civil actions to compel payment and obtain injunctive relief, damages, interest, and attorneys' fees for violations. Deems violations to be unfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices. Requires insurers to furnish an explanation of benefits to the assigned provider upon request.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to honor patient benefit assignments to substance use disorder providers, removing barriers to treatment access and protecting patient rights under insurance coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3175: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE MARKET OVERSIGHT.

Establishes a state oversight framework for material health care mergers, acquisitions, and other consolidation transactions. Requires advance notice and public interest review by the State Health Planning and Development Agency. Requires legislative approval, by concurrent resolution, of certain vertically integrated health care transactions that meet specified market share and pricing impact thresholds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates oversight for health care mergers to prevent anti-competitive pricing and protect public interest, aligning with patient access and market competition goals.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1040: RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT.

Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to conduct a study on the cost and feasibility of establishing a program to acquire and forgive medical debt owed by certain households in the State. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 12/31/2050. (HD1)

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStudy on forgiving medical debt directly improves healthcare access by reducing financial barriers for households, aligning with support indicators.85% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1242: RELATING TO NURSES.

Requires and appropriates moneys for the establishment of a 5-year nurse recertification pilot program to be administered by the Department of Health. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys for the Department of Health to award scholarships to eligible nursing students who agree to teach nursing in Hawaii after graduating.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds nurse recertification pilot and nursing student scholarships, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and access to nursing services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 18, 2026

HB 1978: RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

HB 1978 allocates state funds for planning, design, site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona, Hawaii. The bill directly affects residents in the North Kona area who rely on outpatient health services, aiming to expand access to care. Key provisions include funding specific phases of the facility's development, from initial planning to physical construction. This is a funding measure focused on infrastructure, not a policy change affecting broader healthcare regulations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for outpatient care center construction, directly funding public health infrastructure through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds for outpatient care center construction, expanding healthcare access in North Kona per bill summary.95% confidence

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 30, 2026

SB 2868: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Expands the protections established under Act 2, SLH 2023, to include gender-affirming health care services, including clarifying permitted disclosures of protected health information to address changes in federal regulations. Establishes protections against abusive litigation. Prohibits medical malpractice insurers and health carriers from taking certain adverse actions against health care providers solely on the basis that the health care provider provides lawful reproductive health care services or gender-affirming care services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands protections for gender-affirming and reproductive health care services, prohibits insurers from penalizing providers offering these services, and clarifies protected health information disclosures.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 26, 2026

SB 2165: RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT.

Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from filing a civil lawsuit to collect medical debt from a patient whose household income is less than or equal to five hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from engaging in certain debt collection practices. Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from selling medical debt. Prohibits a health care provider whose income exceeds a certain threshold from denying non-emergency medically necessary care to patients.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits medical debt lawsuits and collection practices for low-income patients, protecting access to healthcare and reducing financial barriers for vulnerable populations.92% confidence

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 18, 2026

SB 2431: RELATING TO HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS.

For taxable years beginning 1/1/2026, establishes a tiered nonrefundable tax credit for qualified taxpayer insurers that offer one or more federally qualified health savings account-eligible high deductible health plans in the State, under certain conditions, and increasing the tax credit to incentivize more plans being written for residents in rural medically underserved areas of the State. Requires qualified taxpayer insurers to match up to a certain amount of a policyholder's first-time contribution into a health savings account. Sunsets 12/31/2030. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes a tax credit for insurers offering HSA-eligible plans, incentivizing coverage in underserved areas through targeted tax relief, advancing fiscal policy to support health access.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates tax credit for insurers offering HSA-eligible plans, especially in rural underserved areas, to expand access to high deductible health coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Insurance

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