STAND. COM. REP. NO. 846-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 816

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 816, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EMERGENCY RESPONSE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize emergency medical technicians to administer buprenorphine after the administration of an opioid antagonist during an opioid overdose response; and

(2) Require the Department of Health to adopt rules that incorporate standard protocols associated with opioid-related drug overdoses and buprenorphine administration, allocate resources for emergency medical technician training, and coordinate with emergency medical services providers regarding buprenorphine administration.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 816, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair