KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair |
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Senator Sharon Y. Moriwaki, Vice Chair |
NOTICE OF DECISION MAKING
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DATE: |
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 |
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TIME: |
10:17 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 211 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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TIMESLOT: |
WAM |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A G E N D A
The following measure(s) were previously heard in their respective subject matter committees:
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RELATING TO MENTAL HEALTH. Requires the Department of Health (DOH) to track and publicly report certain data relating to crisis reports, emergency mental health transports, and court-ordered treatments. Requires the DOH to respond to reports about persons having severe mental illness who are in need of assistance, assess whether those persons fulfill criteria for assisted community treatment, and coordinate the process for an assisted community treatment order if indicated. Establishes that a court's denial of a petition for involuntary commitment shall serve as notification to the DOH that the subject of the petition should be evaluated for assisted community treatment. Appropriates funds. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
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HHS/JDC, WAM |
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RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES. Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to use public-private partnerships for the development of public school facilities, including facilities at public charter schools. Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a pilot program to develop three new public schools in areas based on demonstrated need through public-private partnerships. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO REAL PROPERTY. Repeals the Land Court. Transfers functions of the Land Court to the Bureau of Conveyances. Establishes a working group to recommend the implementation of specific reforms to effectively eliminate the Land Court. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA/JDC, WAM |
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RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. Establishes a PFAS Working Group within the Department of Health to investigate the existence and environmental dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN/HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT. Requires certain wastewater treatment works to test sewage sludge and any other residual material for the presence of PFAS. Requires the Department of Health to adopt administrative rules for the monitoring, sampling, testing, and data collection of sewage sludge and other residual material that contain specific amounts of PFAS. Prohibits the issuance or renewal of permits if testing yields PFAS in sewage sludge or other residual material on land used for agronomic purposes, on land where drainage tiles have been installed, on land that drains into waters of the State, or land in a 500-year floodplain. (SD1)
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HHS/AEN, WAM |
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RELATING TO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMUNICATIONS. Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to develop and implement a statewide public education and communications program to promote household emergency preparedness consistent with the Agency's fourteen-day essential supplies recommendation. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide an American Sign Language interpreter during each official announcement broadcast via television or the Internet during a state of emergency. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the American Sign Language interpreter's face, body, arms, and hands are visible during the broadcast. Requires the Governor or mayor of a county to provide a standardized pool feed that includes the American Sign Language interpreter in a picture-in-picture window not less than one quarter the size of the primary video and not blocked or covered by captions, graphics, or other on-screen tax. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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PSM, WAM |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Requires the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop and adopt a multi-tiered, matrix-based assessment framework to develop definitions for the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity" to be codified into the Hawaii Revised Statutes. Requires the Board to collaborate with stakeholders to draft the terms "bona fide farmer" and "bona fide agricultural activity". Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN, WAM |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Requires the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation or a county to accept a complete application seeking certain exemptions within thirty days. Requires HHFDC to process an application and bring it before the Corporation's Board of Directors within one hundred twenty days of accepting the application. Requires county agencies to process an application and bring it before the county's legislative body within one hundred twenty days of accepting the application. (SD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO HEALTH. Requires Huli Au Ola to conduct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention to serve the island of Molokai. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO STATE BOATING FACILITIES. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop and implement a project to improve portions of Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor, as envisioned by the 2022 University of Hawaii Community Design Center Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor Vision Report. Authorizes the Board of Land and Natural Resources to lease the remaining portion of Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor; provided that the lease shall expire on or before 6/30/2046. Repeals provisions relating to the leasing of certain fast and submerged lands of Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 1/28/2081. (SD1)
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO A GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTION FOR AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE. Provides a general excise tax exemption for the sale of material, parts, or tools used for aircraft service and maintenance or for the construction of an aircraft service and maintenance facility. Effective 1/1/2027. (SD1)
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TRS, WAM |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE HOUSING. Establishes an Agricultural Workforce Housing Working Group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address the shortage and challenges of agricultural workforce housing in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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AEN, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. Removes the prohibition against qualified residents for Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation-approved projects holding a majority interest in land and removes the requirement that qualified residents demonstrate financial viability or ability to pay rent. Amends exemptions from statutes, ordinances, charter provisions, and rules for certain housing projects developed by the Corporation that satisfy certain conditions, including requirements related to employment, owner-occupancy, and deed restrictions. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO CONDOMINIUMS. Requires the Condominium Education Trust Fund to be used for educational resources for condominium unit owners in condominium governance, including programs designed to improve owner understanding of association operations, reserve requirements, financial obligations, and governance rights. Requires the Real Estate Commission to ensure the interests of condominium unit owners are represented in certain activities funded by the Condominium Education Trust Fund and to adopt rules protecting the rights of condominium unit owners for purposes of condominium governance. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN, WAM |
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RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. Allows the Department of Transportation to evaluate an intersection for the installation of a leading pedestrian interval and accessible pedestrian signal upon the first placement or replacement of a state-owned pedestrian signal head. Requires the Department of Transportation to evaluate not fewer than twenty-five existing intersections with pedestrian signal heads on an annual basis until each intersection with a pedestrian signal head showing a pedestrian crash within the last five years has been evaluated. Ensures that accessible pedestrian signals are installed at intersections where leading pedestrian intervals are already installed. Requires that additional safety improvements are implemented as necessary where leading pedestrian intervals and accessible pedestrian signals are installed. Requires the Department of Transportation, in coordination with the counties, to develop a program that allows pedestrians and community members to request the installation of accessible pedestrian signals at specific intersections. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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TRS/EIG, WAM |
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RELATING TO CULTURAL RECOGNITION. Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to place historical markers acknowledging the landform on which the Hawaii Kai Towne Center is sited as Maunalua Island and to consult with the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts on the design standard of the historical markers. Requires the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to pay for any costs related to the placing of the historical markers. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. Clarifies that, for electric utilities, "performance-based incentives" include revenue adjustment mechanisms, cost control mechanisms, rewards for superior performance, and penalties for subpar performance. Confirms that the Public Utilities Commission may adopt alternative ratemaking procedures to establish electric utility rates and performance-based incentives. Requires the Commission to apply a presumption in favor of considering historical cost trends and external indices that reflect incentives to control costs if the Commission resets an electric utility's allowed revenues based on consideration of the utility's costs. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN/EIG, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of deferred maintenance. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING ACCOUNT PROGRAM. For taxable years beginning 1/1/2027, increases the maximum annual deduction for contributions to, and maximum account levels for, individual housing accounts. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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HOU, WAM |
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RELATING TO HOMELESSNESS. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to make an annual report on the number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals and on housing placement. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to annually report to the Legislature on contracts and plans or proposals to enhance kauhale projects. Requires the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions to annually report to the Legislature on coordination between the office and any county, state, or federal agencies, or private or nonprofit organizations.
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE FILM INDUSTRY. Establishes the Hawaii Film Commission within the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism for administrative purposes only and transfers the rights, powers, functions, and duties of the Hawaii Film Office to the Commission. Establishes the Film Industry Development Special Fund. Excludes media and film from the definition of creative industries and renames the Hawaii Film and Creative Industries Development Special Fund as the Hawaii Creative Industries Development Special Fund. Amends the sources of moneys to be deposited into the Hawaii Creative Industries Development Special Fund, including requiring all revenues, fees, and charges from the processing of the Motion Picture, Digital Media, and Film Production Income Tax Credit to be deposited into the Film Industry Development Special Fund, rather than the Hawaii Creative Industries Development Special Fund. Allows the Creative Industries Development Special Fund to be used for the support and development of facilities and other initiatives to grow the State's creative industries. Requires the Governor to appoint Commission members, the Director of Business, Economic Development to appoint the Executive Director of the Commission, and the Executive Director to hire staff by 12/31/2027. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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EDT, WAM |
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RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL LAND TRANSFER. Revises tax map key numbers and the conveyance process by which identified properties are conveyed to the Department of Education pursuant to Act 307, SLH 2022. Directs the conveyance to the County of Kauai and Hawaii State Public Library System of certain lands held by the Department of Education. Clarifies that land dispositions of school buildings, facilities, and grounds made by the DOE shall not require approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources when these dispositions are for periods exceeding one year. (SD1)
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EDU/WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Authorizes the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the Armed Services of the United States or whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War.
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EDU/PSM, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS. Requires the Department of Education to charge not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing a school meal for each school meal.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO FIRE PREVENTION. Establishes the State Fire Code as the minimum statewide standard for fire safety. Prohibits the counties from adopting, amending, or enforcing any ordinance, rule, or code provision that is less restrictive than the State Fire Code. Establishes the State Fire and Life Safety Special Fund. Limits the frequency of fire and safety inspections at state facilities by the Office of the State Fire Marshal to once every three years. Changes the method of appointment of the State Fire Marshal from selection by the State Fire Marshal Selection Commission to appointment by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Amends Act 302, SLH 2025, by replacing two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions for fire inspectors and three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions for fire investigators with four full-time equivalent (4.0 FTE) positions for assistant fire marshals. (SD2)
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PSM, WAM |
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RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS RESEARCH. Establishes the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Research Center of Hawaii within the University of Hawaii. Requires the Research Center to be administratively affiliated with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. Requires JABSOM, the Research Center, University of Hawaii Center on Aging, and University of Hawaii at Manoa to identify opportunities to capitalize on collaboration between the parties and maximize operational efficiencies. Requires the Research Center to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Establishes positions. Appropriates funds. (SD1)
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EDU/HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO WATER CARRIERS. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commission to establish automatic adjustment mechanisms to address economic factors sua sponte or on application by a water carrier. Requires the Public Utilities Commission to establish a water carrier inflationary cost index automatic adjustment mechanism. Authorizes the Public Utilities Commissions to waive or exempt any water carrier from any requirement under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Sunsets 7/1/2033. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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CPN/TRS, WAM |
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RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. Repeals the sunset date 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. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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HOU/HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO PERMITTING. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a statewide permitting intake platform implementing certain recommendations of the Simplifying Permitting for Enhanced Economic Development Task Force. Appropriates funds for the development of the platform, subject to a matching funds requirement from the counties. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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EDT/EIG, WAM |
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RELATING TO AMBULANCES. Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to purchase one advanced life support ambulance and related equipment to be based in Central Maui and fund pay-related personnel costs for state-certified emergency medical services personnel. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE MAUI WILDFIRE EXPOSURE STUDY AND MAUI HEALTH REGISTRY. Appropriates funds for the University of Hawai?i to expand and sustain services provided by the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and Maui Health Registry. (SD1)
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EDU/HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT. Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop, implement, and administer a Medical Debt Acquisition and Forgiveness Program to acquire and forgive outstanding medical debt for certain individuals in the State beginning with the medical debt of the 50,016 Hawaii residents that has already been acquired by medical debt and consolidation organizations. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE HAWAII FILM STUDIO. Provides an exemption to dispositions of lands set aside for film studio and film studio operation from prior approval of the Board of Land and Natural Resources pursuant to section 171-11, HRS, thus streamlining the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism's use of the Hawaii Film Studio for filming activity and other film-related business in order to more efficiently develop Hawaii's film, media, and creative industries. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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EDT/WLA, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE STATE FIRE COUNCIL. Replaces the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations with the Department of Law Enforcement as the department responsible for budgeting administrative staffing for the State Fire Council.
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PSM, WAM |
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RELATING TO CULTURAL EDUCATION. Establishes a Cultural Training Pilot Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources to be administered by the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation for all commercial use permit holders operating in Lahaina Harbor. Requires DOBOR to partner with an organization identified by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs in Native Hawaiian culture and place-based history to teach a cultural training course to educate commercial use permit holders and applicants for commercial use permits on the cultural and historic significance of the area. Requires existing commercial use permit holders and applicants to undergo cultural training.
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WLA/HWN, WAM |
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RELATING TO CORAL REEF RESILIENCE. Requires the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to: (1) manage and administer aquatic life and resources, with the highest priority being to protect, restore, and maintain ecosystem integrity, using the best scientific data available; (2) make plans by certain dates for the restoration of reef ecosystems and indigenous species to a level that is not less than an unspecified per cent of their natural biomass potential; and (3) make a plan by 7/1/2027 for the expansion of live coral cover at not less than twenty-five per cent on reefs that have historically supported naturally occurring live coral cover. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
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WLA, WAM
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RELATING TO HEALTH CARE. Amends the Healthcare Preceptor Tax Credit to remove language limiting access only to those practicing in primary care, to add licensed dietitians, physician assistants, and social workers as eligible preceptors and students, and to include residency and followship programs. Adds the Director of Health and a representative of residency programs with eligible students to the Preceptor Credit Assurance Committee. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2026.
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HHS, WAM |
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RELATING TO HOSPITAL DISCHARGE DATA. Establishes a statewide system for collecting, auditing, and publicly releasing of de-identified hospital discharge data. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a working group. Appropriates funds. Effective 1/30/2050. (SD1)
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HHS, WAM |
Decision making meeting only, no oral testimony will be accepted.
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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 WAMcommittee@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)586-6800.
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_____________________________________ Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz Chair |
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