STAND. COM. REP. NO. 341-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1974

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. 1974 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the State Health Planning and Development Agency to develop and publish a state plan on hearing loss.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency; Hear 4 Hope; Alzheimer's Association–Hawaii; and numerous individuals.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Executive Office on Aging.

Your Committees find that hearing loss is a widespread and growing public health concern affecting residents of all ages, and that untreated hearing loss contributes to significant medical, social, and economic impacts, including cognitive decline, falls, social isolation, and barriers to education and workforce participation. Your Committees further find that Hawaii lacks a coordinated statewide strategy for screening, early detection, and access to hearing health services for children, adults, and kupuna. This measure will support the development of a comprehensive statewide plan to improve early identification, care coordination, and access to hearing health services for Hawaii residents.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

(3) 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 $100,000.

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. 1974, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1974, 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