HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Rep. Jackson D. Sayama, Chair |
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Rep. Mike Lee, Vice Chair |
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Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett |
Rep. Sam Satoru Kong |
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Rep. Jeanne Kapela |
Rep. Julie Reyes Oda |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 |
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TIME: |
9:00 AM |
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PLACE: |
VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 309 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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A G E N D A
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RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Requires an employer to file a response, either accepting or objecting to a treatment plan, within seven days of receipt. Imposes a monetary penalty if an employer does not file a response within the seven-day period. Clarifies that a treatment plan is deemed accepted if an employer fails to file certain documents within the seven-day period.
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LAB, CPC |
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RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Clarifies the process for selecting a certified provider of rehabilitation services. Requires providers to automatically approve vocational rehabilitation services for an injured employee if those services will likely be required for suitable gainful employment. Requires providers to file an employee's vocational plan no later than ninety days after submitting an initial evaluation report, with certain exceptions.
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LAB, CPC |
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RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Authorizes an attending physician to request a functional capacity examination and refer an injured employee for the examination without first obtaining permission from the employee's employer. Allows licensed occupational and physical therapists to be deemed qualified to perform functional capacity examinations.
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LAB, CPC |
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RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Prohibits health care providers from prescribing or dispensing nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation patients.
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LAB, CPC |
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RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION. Defines compounded prescription drugs for the purposes of workers' compensation law.
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LAB, CPC |
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RELATING TO THE WORKERS' COMPENSATION LAW. Repeals the requirement that health care providers' forms be filed with the Director of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) in triplicate. Clarifies the way a physician transmits a treatment plan to an employer. Repeals a reference to the employer's receipt of a vocational rehabilitation plan by mail. Repeals the option of employers to submit reports to the DLIR via United States mail. Repeals the option of health care providers to provide reports to the DLIR or employer via mail.
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LAB, CPC |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD. Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to adopt rules. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDN, LAB, CPC |
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RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS. Establishes a 5-year pilot program to authorize the Department of Education to rehire retired teachers and educational officers for hard-to-staff positions. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDN, LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS. Requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to take certain steps to report incidents of harassment and implement procedures for handling harassment of educational workers. Includes the disruption or interference with the administration or functions of any school, school administration office, or school board in the offense of harassment. Elevates the penalty for harassment to a misdemeanor when the recipient is an educational worker. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDN, LAB, JHA |
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RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS. Establishes a statewide language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HED, LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM. Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HED/EDN, LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO A MARITIME YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAY PROGRAM. Directs the University of Hawaii Community College System, in partnership with state agencies and maritime employers, to conduct a study and develop a plan for a statewide Maritime Youth Apprenticeship Program for individuals ages 16 to 24. Requires a report to the Legislature with recommendations on program structure, resource needs, proposed legislation and implementation options. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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HED, LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD. Clarifies that employees of the Hawaii National Guard youth and adult educational programs are excluded from collective bargaining. Renames the "Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Program" to the "Hawaii National Guard Civil-Military Program" and codifies its Hawaiian name, "Nā Kula Alakaʻi". Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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PBS, LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. Authorizes the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to convert temporary special project positions created for Federal Emergency Management Agency funded disaster recovery operations into permanent positions exempt from civil service, subject to certain limitations. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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PBS, LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO MILITARY FAMILIES. Authorizes an eligible employee to take family leave for a qualifying military exigency under state law. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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PBS, LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO RETIRANTS. Establishes a five-year pilot program allowing retirants to be rehired for exempt service for one-year terms under certain circumstances. Provides that retirants employed under the program are excluded from the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund and will not experience an interruption of pension benefits. Requires an employer of a retirant under the program to contribute to the Employees' Retirement System. Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature. Sunsets 6/30/2031.
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LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO RETIREMENT. Provides elective officers with the choice to be members of the Employees' Retirement System after each election. Repeals the condition that a choice to be excluded from the Employees' Retirement System is irrevocable and such choice may only be made once.
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LAB, FIN |
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RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES. Requires certain employers to provide unpaid and paid leave of absence for victims of workplace violence or threat of workplace violence. Expands the type of certification an employee may provide to an employer if the leave exceeds five days per calendar year.
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LAB, JHA |
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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.
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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) 586-6900.
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________________________________________ Rep. Jackson D. Sayama Chair |
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