STAND. COM. REP. NO. 355-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1978

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 1978 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the planning, design, site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation Corporate Board of Directors; East Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; West Hawaii Region of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation; Office of the Mayor of the County of Hawaiʻi; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Kohala Coast Resort Association; The Queen's Health Systems; Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce; and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that population growth in North Kona has outpaced the growth of outpatient and specialty medical services, resulting in longer travel times, delayed care, and increased pressure on emergency resources. This measure seeks to address North Kona's ongoing health care access challenges by appropriating funds for a new outpatient care center for the region.

Your Committee has 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 Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $50,000,000.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1978, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1978, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair