STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3402

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 76

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 S.C.R. No. 76 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE AUDITOR TO ASSESS THE SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL EFFECTS OF MANDATORY HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR BIOMARKER TESTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Auditor to assess the social and financial effects of mandatory health insurance coverage for biomarker testing.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Alzheimer's Association-Hawaii, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, American Lung Association in Hawaii, Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association, Hawaiʻi Women Lawyers, Maui Cancer Resources, and eleven individuals.

Your Committee finds that biomarker testing is the analysis of a patient's tissue, blood, or other biospecimen for the presence of a biomarker, a type of precision medicine that looks for genes, proteins, and other substances that can provide information about a patient's chronic condition. Your Committee further finds that biomarker testing has become an increasingly important clinical tool for diagnosing and treating a range of diseases. This measure expands access to biomarker testing and allows for a more precise and personalized approach to medical care by identifying specific genetic, molecular, or biochemical markers associated with an individual's disease.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 76, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 76, S.D. 1.

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

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair