STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2249-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.C.R. No. 59

S.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 S.C.R. No. 59, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS TO ENGAGE IN THE PRACTICE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONS IN THE STATE WITHOUT A HAWAII-ISSUED LICENSE DURING A STATE OF EMERGENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Governor to establish procedures to authorize certain health care professionals to engage in the practice of their respective professions in the State without a Hawaii-issued license during a state of emergency or local state of emergency, under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi American Nurses Association; Hawaiʻi Organization of Nurse Leaders; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii faces increasing threats from natural disasters and public health emergencies that require the rapid deployment of qualified health care professionals to address urgent medical and behavioral health needs. Your Committee further finds that the State's geographic isolation and limited health care workforce capacity, particularly in rural and underserved areas, may impede timely access to care during emergencies. Your Committee recognizes that while using emergency licensure waivers have permitted out-of-state health care professionals to provide critical health care services, these waivers have caused delays and hampered coordination with other organizations providing disaster relief, including the United States military and the American Red Cross. Accordingly, your Committee supports establishing standardized emergency authorization processes to enable qualified out‑of‑state health care professionals to practice during declared emergencies, while maintaining patient safety, professional accountability, and continuity of care.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 59, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

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

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair