STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3753

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1961

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 Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1961, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Prohibit persons from interfering with another person's access to or from a health care facility or disrupting the normal functioning of a health care facility;

(2) Make violations a petty misdemeanor;

(3) Establish a private right of action; and

(4) Authorize the Attorney General to bring an action for injunctive or other equitable relief.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency of the Department of Health; Hawaiʻi State Center for Nursing; Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists; Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates-Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; American Association of University Women of Hawaiʻi; Essential Access Health; HOKU PAC; Pride at Work Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi State Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus Commission; Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Hawaii Women's Forum; Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers; Indivisible Hawaiʻi Statewide Network; Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission; and fifty-eight individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Family Forum, and fourteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that interference with health care facilities places workers and patients at risk. When entrances are blocked, services are disrupted, or staff are harassed, a workplace safety issue and public health concern is created because these actions can delay care, escalate conflict, and force workers into unsafe situations that should not be a part of their job. Furthermore, health care workers, many of whom are frontline essential workers, deserve workplaces free from harassment, intimidation, and disruption. This measure will preserve the right to lawful expression while prohibiting conduct that disrupts access to health care facilities to protect patients' rights and promote public health.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1961, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair