STAND. COM. REP. NO. 132-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2161

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2161 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHARMACY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish a pharmacist workforce assessment fee to fund activities of the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy to support pharmacists workforce assessment and planning efforts.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo; Hawaiʻi Pharmacists Association; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and one individual.

Your Committee finds that pharmacists are often the most trusted and accessible health care providers in a community and can act to fill in the gaps in care related to medication management. Your Committee further finds that the State is facing an ongoing shortage of health care providers, including pharmacists, but lacks the robust workforce assessment data necessary to prevent the emerging pharmacist shortage. This measure is intended to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of pharmacists in the State by establishing a dedicated mechanism to collect, analyze, and apply pharmacist workforce assessment data to develop statewide coordination, strategic partnerships, and data-informed solutions to strengthen the State's health care system.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that this measure is a matter of statewide concern;

(2) Clarifying the authorized uses of monies from the special fund;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2161, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2161, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair