CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 221-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2271

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2271, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to allow hospitals to demonstrate compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State through accreditation or certification by any accreditation or certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Your Committee on Conference finds that under existing law, the Department of Health will only accept accreditation from The Joint Commission to demonstrate that a hospital is compliant with state licensing inspections. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uses multiple accreditation or certification organizations to deem a hospital in compliance with federal Medicare Conditions of Participation. This measure expands the list of authorized accreditation organizations that may be used by the State's hospitals to fulfill state licensing inspection requirements.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Reverting to the language of the S.D 1 version of this measure;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2271, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2271, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair
____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair