STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3305

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1858

H.D. 2

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1858, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VITAL STATISTICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend the various requirements in the event of a fetal death, including registration of certain fetal deaths, filing and preparation of a certificate of fetal death, and issuance of a permit for removal, burial, or other disposition.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; State Commission on the Status of Women; Hawaii Women's Coalition; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Hawaiʻi Section; ʻAhahui o nā Kauka; American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter; Hawaii Medical Association; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Pacific Health; and eight individuals.

Your Committee finds that clear and consistent documentation is essential for public health data, which can inform policy decisions and resource allocation related to maternal and fetal health. Your Committee further finds it essential that existing law be amended to address inconsistencies in vital statistics reporting requirements, enhance the clarity and feasibility of reporting, and improve the quality of fetal death data in the State, which will enable health care providers to implement evidence-based interventions to prevent and decrease the rate of fetal death in the State and the societal impacts experienced by families who endure this tragic loss.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Making it effective upon its approval; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1858, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1858, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair