STAND. COM. REP. NO. 342-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1853

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1853 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEMENTIA,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Hanai Memory Network Program within the Executive Office on Aging to create a network of dementia care specialists and support systems to assist individuals with dementia and their caregivers.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Disability Rights Center; AARP Hawaiʻi; Alzheimer's Association–Hawaii; Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans; and numerous individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committees find that dementia and cognitive impairment are increasing public health challenges in Hawaii and place growing emotional, financial, and care‑related burdens on families, caregivers, and the health care system. This measure will help establish a coordinated statewide approach to improve early detection, care coordination, and long‑term support for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committees note the testimony of the Alzheimer's Association that estimates that the initial annual budget requirements for this program would be $3,000,000, which would include amounts for establishing three clinics, hiring staff, procuring community-based services, and developing appropriate programs. Accordingly, your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $3,000,000.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1853, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1853, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________ LISA MARTEN, Chair

____________________________ GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair