SB 3203HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii requires dedicated staff and coordination for medical flights

Hawaii's Department of Health oversees a statewide medical flight program with three permanent staff roles, funded by annual fees paid by providers.

What it does

The Department of Health must staff a statewide medical flight program with a physician director, a program manager, and a coordinator. These jobs must be permanent.

Medical flight providers operating in Hawaii must coordinate services, report data, and help improve care as the Department of Health requires to keep their licenses.

Medical flight providers must pay annual fees that fully cover the statewide program's costs. That money can support only the program, its staff, and emergency coordination.

Argument forStatewide coordination among medical flight providers and hospitals could reduce delays for patients who need care on another island.

Argument againstAnnual fees that cover the program's full costs could raise operating expenses for medical flight providers.

More detail

Hawaii's Department of Health must provide statewide oversight of medical flights through a program with three permanent staff roles. The program covers emergency medical flights and flights that transfer patients between health care facilities. It may set care standards, coordinate services, and support disaster response. The physician director must hold a Hawaii license and have experience in emergency medicine, trauma care, or critical care transport. The jobs cannot depend on temporary programs, pilot projects, or time-limited funding. Chapter 76 does not apply to these jobs.

Medical flight providers must take part in statewide coordination, data reporting, and efforts to improve care. The requirement applies to all medical flight providers operating in Hawaii. Participation is a condition of holding a license, and the Department of Health sets the requirements.

The Department of Health must charge medical flight providers annual fees for licensing and accreditation, which checks whether providers meet standards. All medical flight providers operating in Hawaii must pay. Covered costs include oversight, data reporting, and coordination with emergency services. Fees must be reasonable, cannot be refunded, and must fully cover the listed program costs. The law does not set a dollar amount. The money goes into the Emergency Medical Services Special Fund and can support only this program, its staff, and its emergency management coordination. The Department of Health assesses the fees annually.

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 28
Passed SenateMar 6
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJun 4

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 4Act 084, 06/04/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1184).Latest
2. Jun 4Act 084, on 06/04/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1184).Became Law
3. May 8Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
4. May 8Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) San Buenaventura).Major
5. May 8Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 820).Minor
6. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 889).Minor
7. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
8. May 6Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 239-26).
9. May 648 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-08-26.
10. May 6Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 239-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. May 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-08-26.
12. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; 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.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
13. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
15. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 4:10PM; Conference Room 329.
16. Apr 28Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 3:15PM; Conference Room 329.
17. Apr 27Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 839).Minor
18. Apr 24Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 742).Minor
19. Apr 24House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
20. Apr 23Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella.
21. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 759).Minor
22. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
23. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
24. Apr 14Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
25. Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2093-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
27. Apr 2Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
28. Mar 30Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1503-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
29. Mar 30Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
30. Mar 25The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
31. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 03-25-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
32. Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
33. Mar 10Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
34. Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
35. Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 121).Minor
36. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2730) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
37. Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
38. Mar 3The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
39. Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
40. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:57AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
41. Feb 18Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2344) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
42. Feb 18Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.Minor
43. Feb 13The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
44. Feb 9The committee(s) on HHS has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-13-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
45. Feb 8The committee(s) on HHS deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 1:05PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
46. Feb 5The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
47. Feb 2Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
48. Jan 28Introduced.Minor
49. Jan 28Passed First Reading.Introduced

HealthcareEmergency Management

Issue with this bill?

SB 3203HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii requires dedicated staff and coordination for medical flights

Hawaii's Department of Health oversees a statewide medical flight program with three permanent staff roles, funded by annual fees paid by providers.

What it does

The Department of Health must staff a statewide medical flight program with a physician director, a program manager, and a coordinator. These jobs must be permanent.

Medical flight providers operating in Hawaii must coordinate services, report data, and help improve care as the Department of Health requires to keep their licenses.

Medical flight providers must pay annual fees that fully cover the statewide program's costs. That money can support only the program, its staff, and emergency coordination.

Argument forStatewide coordination among medical flight providers and hospitals could reduce delays for patients who need care on another island.

Argument againstAnnual fees that cover the program's full costs could raise operating expenses for medical flight providers.

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 28
Passed SenateMar 6
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJun 4

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 4Act 084, 06/04/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1184).Latest
2. Jun 4Act 084, on 06/04/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1184).Became Law
3. May 8Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
4. May 8Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) San Buenaventura).Major
5. May 8Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 820).Minor
6. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 889).Minor
7. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
8. May 6Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 239-26).
9. May 648 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-08-26.
10. May 6Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 239-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. May 6Forty-eight (48) hours notice Friday, 05-08-26.
12. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; 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.Upper
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
13. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
15. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 4:10PM; Conference Room 329.
16. Apr 28Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 3:15PM; Conference Room 329.
17. Apr 27Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 839).Minor
18. Apr 24Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 742).Minor
19. Apr 24House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
20. Apr 23Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella.
21. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 759).Minor
22. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
23. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
24. Apr 14Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
25. Apr 10Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2093-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
27. Apr 2Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
28. Mar 30Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1503-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
29. Mar 30Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
30. Mar 25The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
31. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 03-25-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
32. Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
33. Mar 10Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
34. Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
35. Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 121).Minor
36. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2730) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
37. Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
38. Mar 3The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
39. Feb 25The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
40. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:57AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
41. Feb 18Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2344) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
42. Feb 18Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.Minor
43. Feb 13The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
44. Feb 9The committee(s) on HHS has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-13-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
45. Feb 8The committee(s) on HHS deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 1:05PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
46. Feb 5The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
47. Feb 2Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
48. Jan 28Introduced.Minor
49. Jan 28Passed First Reading.Introduced

HealthcareEmergency Management

Issue with this bill?

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History