This amendment creates a three-year test program in Hawaii that allows specially trained psychologists to prescribe mental health medications under doctor supervision at specific clinics.
Hawaii2026Enacted
SB847
Pilot Program Allowing Psychologists to Prescribe Medication in Two Counties
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 11:30 PM
In one sentence
This law creates a three-year test program in Kauai and Hawaii counties that lets trained psychologists prescribe certain mental health medicines under doctor supervision.
What it does
- Establishes a three-year pilot program for prescribing medication by qualified clinical psychologists.
- Limits the program to patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years old.
- Requires psychologists to work under the supervision of a physician or psychiatrist.
- Allows psychologists to prescribe specific psychotropic medications but excludes narcotics.
- Directs the Board of Psychology to create rules for how this authority works.
- Orders the State Health Planning and Development Agency to report results to the Legislature.
Who it affects
- Licensed clinical psychologists who complete special training in Kauai and Hawaii counties.
- Patients aged 18 to 65 receiving mental health care from these psychologists.
- Physicians or psychiatrists who supervise the prescribing psychologists.
- The Board of Psychology and the State Health Planning and Development Agency.
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not state a specific effective date in the provided text.
- The exact list of allowed medications depends on rules that must be written by the Board of Psychology later.
- This program is limited to only two counties and will end after three years unless changed.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Prescriptive authority
- The legal power to write orders for drugs, tests, or treatments used in mental health care.
- Psychotropic medication
- Drugs that treat mental and emotional disorders; this law excludes pain-relieving narcotics from this category.
- Supervising physician
- A licensed medical doctor or psychiatrist who takes professional responsibility for the psychologist's prescribing actions.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. SHPDA; Board of Psychology; Prescriptive Authority; Clinical Psychologists; Pilot Program; Supervising Physician or Psychiatrist; Federally Qualified Health Centers; County of Kauai; County of Hawaii; Rules; Report Establishes a three-year pilot program in the County of Kauai and County of Hawaii to allow qualified psychologists under the supervision of a supervising physician or psychiatrist limited authority to prescribe certain psychotropic medications to patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years under the care of the psychologist. Requires the Board of Psychology to adopt rules. Requires the State Health Planning and Development Agency to report to the Legislature. (CD1)
Official activity
Bill history
- Became law without the Governor's signature, Act 266, 07/16/2026, (Gov. Msg. No. 1370).H
- Became law without the Governor's signature, Act 266, 07/16/2026, (Gov. Msg. No. 1370).S
- Enrolled to Governor.S
- Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).S
- 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) Amato, Grandinetti, Hashem, Hussey, Iwamoto, Kong, Perruso voting no (7) and none excused (0).H
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Moriwaki. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).S
- Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.H
- Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 94-26) as amended in (CD 1).H
- 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.S
- Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 94-26).S
- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Matayoshi, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.H
- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Keohokalole, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.S
- Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 3:45PM; CR 329.S
- Received notice of change in Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 736).H
- Senate Conferees Changed: Senator San Buenaventura added as Chair. Senator Fevella discharged as Conferee. Senator Kanuha discharged as Chair; Added as Member.S
- Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 723).H
- Senate Conferees Appointed: Kanuha Chair; Keohokalole Co-Chair; Fevella.S
- Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).S
- House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Matayoshi Co-Chairs; Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Garcia.H
Changes
Amendments
5 stored
This amendment creates a three-year test program in Kauai that allows specially trained psychologists, working under a doctor's supervision at specific health centers, to prescribe certain mental health medications.
This amendment creates a three-year pilot program starting July 1, 2028, that allows qualified psychologists on Kauai to prescribe specific mental health medications under the supervision of a psychiatrist.
This amendment creates new rules in Hawaii that allow specially trained clinical psychologists to prescribe certain mental health medications under the supervision of a doctor.
This amendment creates a three-year test program in Kauai that allows specially trained psychologists to prescribe mental health medications under doctor supervision.