STAND. COM. REP. NO. 343-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1973

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. 1973 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the KupunAloha program within the Department of Health to provide in-home health care and support services for individuals who do not qualify for existing government programs and cannot otherwise afford these services.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hawaiʻi Meals on Wheels; and three individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committees find that approximately twenty-five thousand kupuna in Hawaii fall into a gap group – unable to access Medicaid and financial unable to pay for private care. These individuals are among the State's most vulnerable and without intervention, they face isolation, declining health, and premature institutionalization. Your Committees further find that providing support through a dedicated statewide program, like the one proposed by this measure, will help ensure that these vulnerable kupuna can safely remain in their homes and receive needed care, thereby reducing strain on families and the health care system and honoring the cultural values of aging in place.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting language clarifying that the KupunAloha program will cease to exist on June 30, 2027;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(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.

Your Committees respectfully request your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $2,000,000.

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. 1973, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1973, 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