CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 222-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2272

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. 2272, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOME HEALTH 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:

(1) Authorize the Department of Health to accept accreditation from an accreditation organization or a certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as demonstration that a licensed home health agency is in compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State;

(2) Specify conditions under which a home health agency may be exempt from a licensing inspection on a continuing basis; and

(3) Require information obtained in reports of survey and accreditation or certification letters to be public information.

Your Committee on Conference finds that home health agencies must be licensed at the federal and state levels. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses accreditation or certification organizations to survey home health agencies' adherence to federal Medicare Conditions of Participation. Many states use a home health agency's certification by a CMS-approved accrediting organization to deem the agency in compliance with state or local licensing requirements, which preserves high standards of care while avoiding unnecessary duplication. By allowing home health agencies to meet state licensure requirements using their accreditation from a CMS-approved accrediting organization, this measure promotes more efficient use of limited state resources while still maintaining high standards of patient care.

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. 2272, 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. 2272, 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