KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura, Chair |
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Senator Angus L.K. McKelvey, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Monday, February 2, 2026 |
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TIME: |
1:05 PM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 225 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A G E N D A
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RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE. Establishes a three-year Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to assist individuals who have lost Medicaid health insurance coverage and lack access to other health insurance options. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to contract with a nonprofit health insurer or community-based organization to operate the Pilot Program; provided that the Department shall allow the operator to access state-backed reinsurance or risk stabilization support for the operator of the Pilot Program. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to: (1) Issue premium subsidies or vouchers; and (2) Accept employer contributions; provided that the benefit shall be portable and follow the individual without imposing compliance or administrative obligations on the State or an employer. Requires reports to the Legislature. Repeals 6/30/2029.
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HHS, CPN/WAM |
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RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH. Expands the services eligible for Medicaid Prospective Payment System reimbursement to include certain services furnished by a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic and provided by mental health professionals under the clinical supervision of a licensed mental health professional. Requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to allow medical assistance reimbursement payments for services provided to recipients eligible for Medicaid benefits under any plan under Medicaid managed care programs in the State by unlicensed mental health professionals under the clinical supervision of a licensed mental health professional. Requires the Department of Human Services to seek necessary waivers and any additional approvals from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO HEALTH. Prohibits the sale of nonprescription diet pills and dietary supplements for weight loss or muscle building to any person under eighteen years of age. Requires retail establishments and delivery sellers to follow certain protocols regarding certain products to prevent access by minors to the restricted products.
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HHS, CPN |
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RELATING TO JURISDICTION. Amends the factors a family court is required to consider in deciding whether the court may waive jurisdiction over a minor or adult held for criminal proceedings. Preserves the family court's jurisdiction over a minor transferred for criminal proceedings for subsequent acts that would otherwise be within the family court's jurisdiction. Requires the court to retain jurisdiction over a minor if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the minor was trafficked, sexually abused, or raped by the alleged victim in the case before or during the commission of the alleged offense.
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HHS, JDC |
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RELATING TO LICENSURE. Requires marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, psychologists, and clinical social workers to complete courses related to domestic violence for licensure and renewals.
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HHS, CPN |
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RELATING TO PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS. Establishes requirements for pharmacy benefit managers that reimburse contracting pharmacies for drugs on a maximum allowable cost basis, including maximum allowable cost lists, and maximum allowable cost reports, and complaints process.
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HHS, CPN |
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RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. Allows qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications to patients under the care of the psychologist in certain circumstances.
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HHS, CPN |
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RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE. Establishes within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Expands eligibility for the $50 benefit established by Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits.
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. Appropriates funds for the planning, design, site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona.
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HHS, WAM |
Decision Making to follow, if time permits.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.
Please note the following:
· The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.
· Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 1 minutes each.
If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf
For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email HHScommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-586-6890.
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_____________________________________ Senator Joy A. San Buenaventura Chair |
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