STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3192

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1974

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent 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 Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency, Policy Advisory Board for Elderly Affairs, Hear 4 Hope, Alzheimer's Association–Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Aloha Independent Living Hawaii, and fourteen individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that the State faces a growing number of hard-of-hearing residents amid its aging population with tens of thousands already affected statewide. Hearing loss significantly impacts health outcomes and quality of life, often exacerbating isolation and chronic conditions. In the State's island context, access barriers amplify these effects for rural populations. Your Committee further finds that a state plan would provide direction, identify current resources, and identify gaps in services in relation to hearing loss. This measure helps reduce dementia risk, supports kupuna and caregivers, and improves long-term health outcomes for residents of the State through the development of a coordinated state plan on hearing loss.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1974, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair