HB 1509HawaiiProcess complete

Employers must respond to injured workers' treatment plans within ten days

Hawaii employers must file responses to injured workers' treatment plans within ten days, with a $1,000 fine for late responses unless the director finds good cause.

What it does

Employers must file a response to treatment plans within ten days of receipt. Missing the deadline brings a $1,000 fine unless the director finds good cause for the delay.

Treatment plans count as accepted if employers miss the ten-day deadline for filing objection documents. Employers may object later if they receive new medical records supporting denial.

Employers must cover costs, including reasonable lawyer fees, for challenging denials or enforcing payment when the director finds a denial lacked reasonable grounds, had no serious basis, or mainly sought delay.

Argument forResponse deadlines and penalties could discourage employers from delaying injured workers' care through silence or groundless denials.

Argument againstEmployers could have treatment plans accepted automatically if they cannot gather medical records and file their objections within ten days.

More detail

Employers must securely file an electronic response accepting or objecting to a treatment plan with the director who oversees workers' compensation. This requirement covers employers receiving physicians' treatment plans for injured workers under Hawaii's workers' compensation law. The $1,000 fine does not apply if the director finds good cause for the delay. A plan counts as received when reasonable evidence shows the employer received it. The law took effect July 1, 2026. Responses are due within ten days after receipt is established. It preserves rights and duties already established, penalties already incurred, and proceedings already begun before that date.

A treatment plan counts as accepted when the employer fails to file the required objection documents on time. The rule covers employers objecting to injured workers' treatment plans. The employer must file an objection, any applicable medical records supporting denial, and a copy of the denied plan with the director, and send copies to the physician and injured worker. After acceptance, the employer may object if it receives new medical records supporting denial. The filing deadline is ten days after the plan counts as received.

Employers must pay costs, including reasonable lawyer fees, when the director finds that they improperly denied a treatment plan. Covered costs include those incurred by injured workers or their authorized representatives, billing agents, or health care providers acting for them. The director must find that the denial lacked reasonable grounds, was frivolous—meaning it had no serious basis—or was mainly intended to cause delay. Covered costs must arise from challenging the denial or enforcing payment under the plan. The director may enforce the penalties. This provision took effect July 1, 2026.

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More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 14
Passed HouseMar 10
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJun 24

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 24Act 131, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1232).Latest
2. Jun 24Act 131, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1232).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Matayoshi, Lee, M., Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
9. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Keohokalole, Rhoads, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 145-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 145-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
15. Apr 29Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
16. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
17. Apr 27Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
18. Apr 24Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
19. Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 8:45AM in conference room 016.
20. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Elefante Chair; Keohokalole, Rhoads, Kanuha Co-Chairs; Lamosao.
21. Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 717).Minor
22. Apr 20Re-referred to LAB, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 30Minor
23. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Matayoshi, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Garcia.
24. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
25. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
26. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
27. Apr 14Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 574) in amended form (SD 1).
29. Apr 10Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3800) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
30. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
31. Apr 8The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
32. Apr 8The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
33. Apr 6The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
34. Mar 30Reported from LBT/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3371) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
35. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.Minor
36. Mar 23The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
37. Mar 23The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella.Minor
38. Mar 20The committee(s) on LBT/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
39. Mar 18Re-Referred to LBT/CPN, JDC/WAM.Minor
40. Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 231).Minor
41. Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
42. Mar 12Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.Minor
43. Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
44. Mar 6Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1049-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
45. Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
46. Mar 3The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
47. Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
48. Feb 20Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 630-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC. Result: pass.Lower
49. Feb 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
50. Feb 17The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
51. Feb 13Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
52. Jan 26Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 1Minor
53. Jan 21Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
54. Jan 14Prefiled.Introduced

HealthcareEconomy & Jobs

Issue with this bill?

HB 1509HawaiiProcess complete

Employers must respond to injured workers' treatment plans within ten days

Hawaii employers must file responses to injured workers' treatment plans within ten days, with a $1,000 fine for late responses unless the director finds good cause.

What it does

Employers must file a response to treatment plans within ten days of receipt. Missing the deadline brings a $1,000 fine unless the director finds good cause for the delay.

Treatment plans count as accepted if employers miss the ten-day deadline for filing objection documents. Employers may object later if they receive new medical records supporting denial.

Argument forResponse deadlines and penalties could discourage employers from delaying injured workers' care through silence or groundless denials.

Argument againstEmployers could have treatment plans accepted automatically if they cannot gather medical records and file their objections within ten days.

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 14
Passed HouseMar 10
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJun 24

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 24Act 131, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1232).Latest
2. Jun 24Act 131, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1232).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Matayoshi, Lee, M., Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
9. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Keohokalole, Rhoads, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lamosao.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 145-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 145-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
15. Apr 29Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
16. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
17. Apr 27Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
18. Apr 24Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Monday 04-27-26 9:00AM in conference room 016.
19. Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 8:45AM in conference room 016.
20. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Elefante Chair; Keohokalole, Rhoads, Kanuha Co-Chairs; Lamosao.
21. Apr 21Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 717).Minor
22. Apr 20Re-referred to LAB, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 30Minor
23. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Sayama, Matayoshi, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Garcia.
24. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
25. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
26. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
27. Apr 14Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 574) in amended form (SD 1).
29. Apr 10Reported from JDC/WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3800) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
30. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
31. Apr 8The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
32. Apr 8The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) San Buenaventura ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
33. Apr 6The committee(s) on JDC/WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
34. Mar 30Reported from LBT/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3371) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
35. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.Minor
36. Mar 23The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
37. Mar 23The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella.Minor
38. Mar 20The committee(s) on LBT/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
39. Mar 18Re-Referred to LBT/CPN, JDC/WAM.Minor
40. Mar 12Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 231).Minor
41. Mar 12Passed First Reading.Minor
42. Mar 12Referred to LBT, JDC/WAM.Minor
43. Mar 10Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
44. Mar 6Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1049-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
45. Mar 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
46. Mar 3The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Pierick.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
47. Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
48. Feb 20Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 630-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC. Result: pass.Lower
49. Feb 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
50. Feb 17The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
51. Feb 13Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
52. Jan 26Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 1Minor
53. Jan 21Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
54. Jan 14Prefiled.Introduced

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Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

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More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History