HawaiiCommission would study long-term care financing options
A proposed commission would study long-term care financing, home-based support, and caregiver needs before reporting options and possible legislation to lawmakers.
What it does
A joint legislative commission would study public and private ways to finance long-term care, with lawmakers, state officials, care experts, consumers, and a direct care worker taking part.
The commission would hire staff and consultants to study financing and community care, gather public input, and report findings and possible legislation to lawmakers through 2028.
Up to $100,000 would support the commission during fiscal year 2026–2027, including a part-time project director and preparation for consultant contracts.
Argument forA broad study of financing, home care, and caregiver needs could give lawmakers evidence for future long-term care decisions.
Argument againstThe commission may spend up to $100,000 on staffing and planning consultants while producing recommendations rather than immediately expanding services for people needing care.
More detail
A joint House and Senate commission would examine ways to pay for long-term care services and supports. The commission would include legislators, state officials, public members, a consumer advocate, a direct care worker, and invited representatives from care and managed-care organizations. Members would serve without pay. Some appointed members could seek reimbursement for necessary expenses if they provide documentation and money is available. Commission spending would follow state purchasing and budget rules. Members would be appointed within 30 days after the Act takes effect, and the first meeting would occur within 60 days after membership is finalized. The commission would end on June 30, 2029, unless the Legislature extends it.
The commission, through the Legislative Reference Bureau, would hire a part-time project director and seek consultants for financial studies, policy work, public education, and community outreach. The work would cover long-term care financing, home- and community-based care, caregiver support, workforce shortages, access, quality, costs, eligibility options, and long-term financial assumptions. The project director could work no more than 20 hours each week and would need experience with public health insurance financing and policy. Consultants would conduct objective, evidence-based assessments and studies. The commission would seek public and private funding for its work. The project director contract would be entered within 30 days after membership is finalized. The commission would submit a preliminary report by December 31, 2026, an interim report by December 31, 2027, and a final report with recommendations and possible legislation by December 31, 2028.
The Legislative Reference Bureau would receive up to $100,000 in state general funds for the commission. The money would support one part-time project director and preparation for contracts covering financial, policy, public education, and stakeholder-engagement work. The amount would be available only for fiscal year 2026–2027. The funds would be spent through the Legislative Reference Bureau for the purposes listed in the Act. Actual spending would be limited to the amount needed for those purposes. The funding would apply during fiscal year 2026–2027 and would be available when the Act is approved.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jul 14Act 249, 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1351).Latest
- Jul 14Act 249, on 07/14/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1351).Became Law
- May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
- May 7Transmitted to Governor.
- May 6Passed 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 in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
- May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
- May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Chun, 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
- 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, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 156-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 156-26).
- May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
- Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:20PM in conference room 329.
- Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 3:15PM in conference room 329.
- Apr 24Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 3:15PM in conference room 329.
- Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).Minor
- Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Moriwaki Co-Chair; Fevella.
- Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Chun, Alcos.
- Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
- Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
- Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
- Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). 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 2). Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 624) in amended form (SD 2).
- Apr 10Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3723) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
- Apr 1048 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
- Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
- Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- Mar 25Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3175) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
- Mar 25Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
- Mar 18The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 1:00PM; CR 225 & Videoconference.
- Mar 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 159).Minor
- Mar 10Passed First Reading.Minor
- Mar 10Referred to HHS, WAM.Minor
- Mar 6Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 977-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
- Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 6Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
- Mar 3The 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
- Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Feb 20Re-referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 14Minor
- Feb 6Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 47-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LMG.
- Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LMG. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 6Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LMG with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Minor
- Feb 4The 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
- Jan 30Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 02-04-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- Jan 26Referred to HLT, LMG, FIN, referral sheet 1Minor
- Jan 23Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
- Jan 22Pending introduction.Introduced
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