STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1065-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2319

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 2319, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE STATE HEALTH PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Amend the functions and responsibilities of the State Health Planning and Development Agency to identify and coordinate activities and resources that affect health care access, cost, and quality across the State;

(2) Increase the certificate of need exemption threshold for bed changes to thirty percent of a facility's existing licensed beds; and

(3) Exempt health care facilities or services operated by the Department of Health from certificate of need requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Association of Health Plans and Hawaii Medical Service Association.

Your Committee finds that the State's evolving health care landscape requires clearer statutory direction to ensure statewide coordination, modernized planning functions, and more responsive regulatory mechanisms. The existing framework has not kept pace with changes in health care delivery, data systems, and system-level planning needs, while outdated thresholds and requirements may impede timely adjustments to capacity and services. This measure aims to strengthen statewide planning and support more accessible, efficient, and equitable health care.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that the State Health Planning and Development Agency is required to establish a state health services and facilities plan, rather than a state health services, workforce, and facilities plan; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2319, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2319, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair