HB 1974HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii agency must prepare and report on a statewide hearing loss plan

Hawaii’s state planning agency must prepare a hearing loss plan, report on progress, and use up to $100,000 for the work in fiscal year 2026–2027.

What it does

The state agency must prepare a Hawaii hearing loss plan that examines screening, care, and training, and recommends ways to improve access to services and communication support.

The agency must report on progress and state efforts, set tasks and milestones for each goal, recommend next steps, and review services for people with hearing loss and their families.

The state sets aside up to $100,000 for the agency to coordinate plan work, hear from communities and experts, and publish the plan.

Argument forA statewide review could help the agency identify gaps in screening and care, then recommend ways to improve services for people with hearing loss.

Argument againstPreparing the plan and repeated updates could use staff time and state money that the agency might otherwise spend on other health work.

More detail

The State Health Planning and Development Agency must develop and publish a state plan on hearing loss. The plan must assess hearing loss in Hawaii, including screening gaps for school-age children, adults, and older adults. It must also address care, training, health effects, and possible service improvements.

The agency must submit plan updates to the Legislature. Each update covers the most recently completed fiscal biennium, meaning a two-year budget period. Each update must describe progress and state efforts, list tasks and milestones for each goal, recommend policy or program steps, and review services coordinated by public and private agencies. The first update is due no later than 20 days before the 2029 regular session. Another is due no later than 20 days before each later odd-numbered regular session.

The state appropriates up to $100,000 for the agency to develop and publish the plan. The money is for coordinating the work, gathering input from communities and experts, and drafting and publishing the plan. The agency may use only the amount needed, up to $100,000, for the stated purposes. The appropriation is for fiscal year 2026–2027.

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More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 23
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJul 10

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 10Act 223, 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1325).Latest
2. Jul 10Act 223, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1325).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; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) 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) Takayama, Olds, 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
9. 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, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 177-26) 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. 177-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
15. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 4:00PM in conference room 329.
16. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
17. Apr 23Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).Minor
18. Apr 22Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Moriwaki Co-Chair; Fevella.
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
21. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
22. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
23. 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
24. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 648) in amended form (SD 1).
25. Apr 10Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3703) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
27. 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, 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, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
29. Mar 25Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3192) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
30. Mar 25Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
31. Mar 20The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
32. Mar 17The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
33. Mar 10Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
34. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 70).Minor
35. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
36. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 841-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
37. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
38. Feb 27The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
39. Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 02-27-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
40. Feb 18Reported from HLT/HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 341-26) 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
41. Feb 18Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).Minor
42. Feb 6The 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 HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
43. Feb 6The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
44. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT/HSH on Friday, 02-06-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
45. Jan 28Referred to HLT/HSH, FIN, referral sheet 3Minor
46. Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
47. Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced

Healthcare

Issue with this bill?

HB 1974HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii agency must prepare and report on a statewide hearing loss plan

Hawaii’s state planning agency must prepare a hearing loss plan, report on progress, and use up to $100,000 for the work in fiscal year 2026–2027.

What it does

The state agency must prepare a Hawaii hearing loss plan that examines screening, care, and training, and recommends ways to improve access to services and communication support.

The agency must report on progress and state efforts, set tasks and milestones for each goal, recommend next steps, and review services for people with hearing loss and their families.

The state sets aside up to $100,000 for the agency to coordinate plan work, hear from communities and experts, and publish the plan.

Argument forA statewide review could help the agency identify gaps in screening and care, then recommend ways to improve services for people with hearing loss.

Argument againstPreparing the plan and repeated updates could use staff time and state money that the agency might otherwise spend on other health work.

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 23
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJul 10

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 10Act 223, 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1325).Latest
2. Jul 10Act 223, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1325).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; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) 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) Takayama, Olds, 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
9. 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, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 177-26) 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. 177-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
15. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 4:00PM in conference room 329.
16. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
17. Apr 23Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).Minor
18. Apr 22Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Moriwaki Co-Chair; Fevella.
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
21. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
22. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
23. 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
24. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 648) in amended form (SD 1).
25. Apr 10Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3703) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
27. 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, 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, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
29. Mar 25Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3192) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
30. Mar 25Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
31. Mar 20The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
32. Mar 17The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
33. Mar 10Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
34. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 70).Minor
35. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
36. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 841-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
37. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
38. Feb 27The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
39. Feb 24Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 02-27-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
40. Feb 18Reported from HLT/HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 341-26) 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
41. Feb 18Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).Minor
42. Feb 6The 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 HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
43. Feb 6The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.Minor
44. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT/HSH on Friday, 02-06-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
45. Jan 28Referred to HLT/HSH, FIN, referral sheet 3Minor
46. Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
47. Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced

Healthcare

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Where it stands

Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

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More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History