This amendment requires Hawaii's health planning agency to create a detailed state plan to improve hearing loss screening, treatment access, and awareness.
Hawaii2026Enacted
HB1974
Hawaii State Plan on Hearing Loss
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 11:30 PM
In one sentence
This law requires the state health agency to create a plan that improves how Hawaii finds, treats, and supports people with hearing loss.
What it does
- Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to write and publish a statewide plan for hearing loss.
- Sets aside $100,000 from state funds in fiscal year 2026-2027 to pay for creating this plan.
- Orders the agency to study current rules, data on who has hearing loss, public awareness, and gaps in screening services.
- Asks the agency to look at how expensive hearing aids are, workforce training needs, and related health concerns like dementia or falls.
- Requires the agency to submit a first report by 2027 and update reports every two years after that.
Who it affects
- The State Health Planning and Development Agency
- Hawaii residents who have hearing loss, including children (keiki) and older adults (kupuna)
- Health care providers, educators, audiologists, and community-based organizations
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not say exactly how much money will be spent on each part of the plan.
- The final details of what is in the state plan are unknown until the agency finishes writing it by 2027.
Plain language
Terms to know
- State Health Planning and Development Agency
- The state government group responsible for making the new hearing loss plan.
- Kupuna
- A Hawaiian word meaning elders or older adults, who are often more likely to have hearing loss as they age.
- Assistive technologies
- Tools like hearing aids and cochlear implants that help people hear better.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
RELATING TO HEALTH. State Health Planning and Development Agency; State Plan on Hearing Loss; Appropriation ($) Requires and appropriates funds for the State Health Planning and Development Agency to develop and publish a state plan on hearing loss. (CD1)
Official activity
Bill history
- Act 223, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1325).H
- Act 223, 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1325).S
- Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).S
- Transmitted to Governor.H
- Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).H
- Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).H
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.S
- 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26S
- Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 177-26).S
- Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.H
- Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 177-26) as amended in (CD 1).H
- The 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.S
- The 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.H
- Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.H
- Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 4:00PM in conference room 329.H
- Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.H
- Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).H
- Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Moriwaki Co-Chair; Fevella.S
- Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).S
- House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.H
Changes
Amendments
3 stored
This amendment requires Hawaii's health planning agency to create a detailed state plan to improve how hearing loss is detected, treated, and understood across the community.
This amendment requires Hawaii's health planning agency to create a detailed state plan to improve hearing loss screening, treatment access, and awareness.