SB 2272HawaiiProcess complete

Licensed home health agencies can qualify to skip state licensing inspections

Hawaii’s licensed home health agencies may qualify for inspection exemptions through approved outside reviews, while the Department of Health can still investigate concerns.

What it does

Licensed home health agencies may qualify to skip state licensing inspections with federally approved outside reviews. They must submit certified reports, maintain full approval, and keep a valid state license.

An inspection exemption does not prevent state oversight. The Department of Health can investigate complaints, inspect agencies after negative outside findings, and conduct periodic checks.

Information in approved outside inspection reports and official letters confirming accreditation or certification must be public when used to decide whether an agency meets licensing requirements.

Argument forAccepting approved outside reviews could spare home health agencies duplicate inspections while still requiring them to meet licensing standards.

Argument againstSkipping routine state inspections could reduce chances to spot patient care problems, even though the Department of Health can still investigate.

More detail

The Department of Health may accept approved accreditation or certification as proof that an agency meets state licensing inspection requirements. This applies to licensed home health agencies with accreditation or certification, meaning formal outside approval that they meet standards. The outside reviewing organization must be approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The agency must submit a certified copy of its official report, continuously hold full accreditation or certification, and keep a current, valid state license. The exemption may last throughout the accreditation or certification term. The law took effect upon approval on June 8, 2026.

The Department of Health may inspect and investigate agencies that qualify for the inspection exemption. This authority covers home health agencies exempt from state licensing inspections under this law. Inspections and investigations may concern complaints, negative findings from outside reviews, or periodic checks to confirm compliance.

Information in outside survey reports and official accreditation or certification letters used to decide licensing compliance must be public. The disclosure requirement covers information used to determine whether home health agencies meet licensing requirements. The reports and letters must come from an organization approved by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Other records the Department of Health keeps for this section follow the separate rules in chapter 92F.

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More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 15
Passed SenateMar 10
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJun 9

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 9Act 105, 06/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1205).Latest
2. Jun 9Act 105, on 06/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1205).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.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 of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.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 were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Matayoshi.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 222-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 222-26) as amended in (CD 1).
13. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
15. Apr 29Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
16. Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).Minor
17. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella.
18. Apr 20Re-referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 30Minor
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Matayoshi, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
21. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 643).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 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
25. Apr 10Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2115-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 10Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
27. Apr 7The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
28. Apr 2Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:05PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
29. Mar 24Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1351-26) 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
30. Mar 24Passed 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) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).Minor
31. Mar 20The 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; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
32. Mar 17Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Friday, 03-20-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
33. Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
34. Mar 12Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 17Minor
35. Mar 10Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). 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, as amended (SD 1). Result: pass.Upper
36. Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 204) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
37. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2849) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
38. Mar 548 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
39. Mar 2The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
40. Feb 27The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.
41. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
42. Feb 18Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2359) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
43. Feb 18Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.Minor
44. Feb 6The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
45. Feb 3The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
46. Jan 26Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
47. Jan 21Introduced and passed First Reading.Minor
48. Jan 15Pending Introduction.Introduced

Healthcare

Issue with this bill?

SB 2272HawaiiProcess complete

Licensed home health agencies can qualify to skip state licensing inspections

Hawaii’s licensed home health agencies may qualify for inspection exemptions through approved outside reviews, while the Department of Health can still investigate concerns.

What it does

An inspection exemption does not prevent state oversight. The Department of Health can investigate complaints, inspect agencies after negative outside findings, and conduct periodic checks.

Information in approved outside inspection reports and official letters confirming accreditation or certification must be public when used to decide whether an agency meets licensing requirements.

Argument forAccepting approved outside reviews could spare home health agencies duplicate inspections while still requiring them to meet licensing standards.

Argument againstSkipping routine state inspections could reduce chances to spot patient care problems, even though the Department of Health can still investigate.

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 15
Passed SenateMar 10
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJun 9

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 9Act 105, 06/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1205).Latest
2. Jun 9Act 105, on 06/08/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1205).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.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 of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.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 were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Matayoshi.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 222-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 222-26) as amended in (CD 1).
13. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
15. Apr 29Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 4:30PM in conference room 329.
16. Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).Minor
17. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella.
18. Apr 20Re-referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 30Minor
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Matayoshi, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
21. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 643).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 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
25. Apr 10Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2115-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 10Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
27. Apr 7The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
28. Apr 2Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:05PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
29. Mar 24Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1351-26) 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
30. Mar 24Passed 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) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).Minor
31. Mar 20The 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; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
32. Mar 17Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Friday, 03-20-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
33. Mar 12Pass First ReadingMinor
34. Mar 12Referred to HLT, CPC, referral sheet 17Minor
35. Mar 10Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). 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, as amended (SD 1). Result: pass.Upper
36. Mar 10Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 204) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
37. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2849) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 1).
38. Mar 548 Hrs. Notice 03-10-26.
39. Mar 2The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
40. Feb 27The committee on WAM has rescheduled its decision making to 03-02-26 10:02AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.
41. Feb 23The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-02-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
42. Feb 18Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2359) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
43. Feb 18Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.Minor
44. Feb 6The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
45. Feb 3The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
46. Jan 26Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
47. Jan 21Introduced and passed First Reading.Minor
48. Jan 15Pending Introduction.Introduced

Healthcare

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