HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES & HOMELESSNESS

Rep. Lisa Marten, Chair

Rep. Ikaika Olds, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Terez Amato

Rep. Jenna Takenouchi

Rep. Daisy Hartsfield

Rep. David Alcos III

Rep. Sue L. Keohokapu-Lee Loy

Rep. Diamond Garcia

Rep. Gregg Takayama

 

 

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Thursday, February 5, 2026

TIME:

9:30am

PLACE:

VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE

Conference Room 329

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.

 

A live stream link of all House Standing Committee meetings will be available online

shortly before the scheduled start time.

 

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

 

 

 

A G E N D A

 

HB 1972

Status

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a family caregiver tax credit for nonpaid family caregivers.  Requires the Department of Taxation to submit annual reports to the Legislature.  Appropriates moneys.  The tax credit applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026.

 

HSH, ECD, FIN

HB 1975

Status

RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.

Repeals the sunset for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna.  Appropriates funds to the Hawaii Public Housing Authority for the State Rent Supplement Program for Kupuna and for positions to support the program.

 

HSH, FIN

HB 1706

Status

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.

 

HSH, CPC

HB 2007

Status

RELATING TO THE HOUSEHOLD AND DEPENDENT CARE SERVICES TAX CREDIT.

Increases a taxpayer's applicable percentage of employment-related expenses that is used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit.  Extends the sunset date of the temporary increase in maximum employment-related expenses that are used to calculate the household and dependent care services tax credit, established by Act 163, SLH 2023, to 6/30/2030.  Sunsets 6/30/2030.

 

HSH, ECD, FIN

HB 1546

Status

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.

 

HSH, CPC, FIN

HB 2010

Status

RELATING TO TAXATION.

Establishes a surcharge on taxable income exceeding $1,000,000 to provide funding, if approved by the Legislature, for the State Medicaid Program.

 

HSH, FIN

HB 1668

Status

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Requires the Department of Human Services to allow a full earned income disregard for individuals with disabilities who are between the ages of sixteen and sixty-four years when determining eligibility for Medicaid.  Takes effect upon approval by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

 

HSH, FIN

HB 2009

Status

RELATING TO FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.

Extends child care subsidies to disabled parents or guardians, regardless of their employment status.  Requires the Department of Human Services to evaluate caregiver capacity and dependent-care responsibilities when determining eligibility for medicaid home- and community-based services.  Requires the Department of Human Services to update its evaluation form and functional assessment protocols related to level of care and at-risk needs determinations.  Appropriates funds.

 

HSH, FIN

HB 2208

Status

RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY.

Establishes and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program under the Department of Human Services to alleviate food shortages in the State.  Requires reports to the Legislature before the Regular Sessions of 2027 and 2028.

 

HSH, AGR, FIN

HB 2458

Status

RELATING TO SURVEILLANCE PRICING.

Prohibits retailers from using surveillance pricing in the sale of food that is sold, or qualifies to be sold, as part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Special Supplemental Foods Program for Women, Infants, and Children.  Establishes fines.  Exemptions certain discounts and loyalty programs.

 

HSH, CPC, JHA

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  Testimony received after this time will be stamped late and left to the discretion of the chair to consider.  While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may not be processed.

 

Testimony submitted will be placed on the legislative website.  This public posting of testimony on the website should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

 

The chair may institute a per-testifier time limit.

 

Committees meeting in the morning must adjourn prior to the day's Floor Session.  Therefore, due to time constraints, not all testifiers may be provided an opportunity to offer verbal comments.  However, written submissions will be considered by the committee.

 

Please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior.  Violations may result in ejection from the hearing without the ability to rejoin.

 

For remote testifiers, the House will not be responsible for bad connections on the testifier's end.

 

For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov.

 

The livestream and/or cable TV broadcast of this meeting will include closed captioning.  If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation (including oral, written, or ASL interpretive services) or are unable to submit testimony via the website due to a disability, please contact the committee clerk at (808)586-9453. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.

 

Click here for a complete list of House Guidelines for remote testimony.

 

FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.

 

For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-9453.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Lisa Marten

Chair