HB1546 • 2026

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

Budget

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: KAHALOA, AMATO, CHUN, EVSLIN, ILAGAN, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, LEE, M., LOWEN, MARTEN, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, TAKAYAMA, TARNAS
Last action: 2026-05-01
Official status: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 5:20PM in conference room 329.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.
DHS; DCCA; Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program; Medicaid; Subsidies; Waivers; Vouchers; Portability; Reports; Appropriation ($) Establishes a 3-year Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to assist individuals who have lost Medicaid health insurance coverage and lack access to other health insurance options.
Authorizes the Department of Human Services to contract with a nonprofit health insurer or community-based organization to operate the Pilot Program under certain circumstances.
Authorizes the Department of Human Services to issue premium subsidies in certain circumstances.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB1546 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1546 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1546 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB1546 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1546 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1546 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: HB1546 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1546 SD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1546 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-05-01 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 5:20PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-30 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-29 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-28 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-24 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-27-26 2:00PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-23 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 737).
2026-04-23 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Wakai Co-Chair; Awa.
2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Matayoshi, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Garcia.
2026-04-17 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
2026-04-16 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-14 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 582) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-04-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-09 S
48 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-09 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3688) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-04-06 S
The 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..
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3318) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-24 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-24-26 9:35AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-20 S
Re-Referred to CPN, WAM.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to HHS/CPN, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 17).
2026-03-05 H
Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 825-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-26 H
The 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, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 02-26-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 670-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Kong, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama, Lowen.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 02-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-12 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Pierick voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-12 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 220-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-02-10 H
The 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; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-05 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 02-10-26 10:30AM in conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-05 H
The committee(s) on HSH recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 02-10-26 at 10:30AM.
2026-02-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 02-05-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to HSH, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-15 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE.
DHS; DCCA; Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program; Medicaid; Subsidies; Waivers; Vouchers; Portability; Reports; Appropriation ($)
Establishes a 3-year Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to assist individuals who have lost Medicaid health insurance coverage and lack access to other health insurance options. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to contract with a nonprofit health insurer or community-based organization to operate the Pilot Program under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Department of Human Services to issue premium subsidies in certain circumstances. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys. Sunsets 6/30/2029. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1546

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1546

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to health insurance
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that access to preventive services, telehealth, and urgent
care improves health outcomes and helps in reducing long-term health care
costs.
�
Portable coverage options,
including those that allow for employer contributions, support workforce
stability without imposing additional regulatory burdens for employers.
�
Recent changes to Medicaid eligibility and
redetermination processes made at the federal level will cause a significant
number of residents of the State to lose their Medicaid health insurance
coverage.
�
The legislature further finds
that many of those who will lose Medicaid coverage lack access to
employer-sponsored health insurance or other health insurance options during
periods of transition between health insurance plans.
�
Furthermore, commercial health insurance
plans are often cost-prohibitive for individuals who experience temporary or
intermittent gaps in health insurance coverage.

����
The legislature also finds that, due to
federal rule changes effective on January 1, 2026, low-premium bronze and
catastrophic health insurance plans, when paired with health savings accounts,
may offer an affordable and flexible coverage option for individuals who no
longer qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford comprehensive health plans.
�
The legislature additionally finds that
targeted, time-limited interventions can help to prevent disruptions in care
while preserving the protections of the Prepaid Health Care Act for full-time
workers.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:

����
(1)
�
Establish
a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program within the department of human
services, in consultation with the department of commerce and consumer affairs,
to assist individuals who have lost Medicaid health insurance coverage and lack
access to other health insurance options;

����
(2)
�
Authorize
the department of human services to contract with a nonprofit health insurer or
community-based organization to operate the pilot program, under certain
circumstances; and

����
(3)
�
Authorize
the department of human services to:

���������
(A)
�
Issue
premium subsidies or vouchers; and

���������
(B)
�
Accept
employer contributions, under certain circumstances.

����
SECTION 2.
�

(a)
�
There shall be established a
three-year health coverage continuity pilot program to be administered by the
department of human services in consultation with the department of commerce
and consumer affairs.
�
The purpose of the
pilot program shall be to provide health insurance coverage to individuals who
have lost medicaid coverage and do not qualify for employer-sponsored insurance
or federal premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act or any successor
federal program to mirror 2026 federal rules allowing health savings accounts to
pair with bronze level or catastrophic health insurance plans.

����
(b)
�

The department shall:

����
(1)
�
Target
individuals who have lost medicaid coverage and do not qualify for
employer-sponsored health insurance or federal premium subsidies under the
Affordable Care Act or any successor federal program, including but not limited
to:

���������
(A)
�
Seasonal
or agricultural workers;

���������
(B)
�
Independent
contractors and freelancers;

���������
(C)
�
Underemployed
adults; and

���������
(D)
�
Community
college or university students without other health insurance coverage;

����
(2)
�
Establish
eligibility criteria and an application process for enrollment in the pilot
program; and

����
(3)
�
Provide
low premium bronze level or catastrophic health insurance plans approved by the
insurance commissioner; provided that the health plans:

���������
(A)
�
Qualify
as high deductible health plans under federal law;

���������
(B)
�
Allow
an individual to make tax-deductible contributions to a health savings account
in accordance with federal law; and

����
����
(C)
�
Provide coverage for preventive care health
visits, urgent care services, telehealth services, and generic prescription
drugs, including essential health benefits as defined under federal or state
law.

����
(c)
�

Direct payment agreements for routine primary care services between a
patient and a licensed provider:

����
(1)
�
Shall
not be considered insurance; and

����
(2)
�
May
be used in combination with coverage offered under this program, to the extent
permitted under federal health savings account rules.

����
(d)
�
The
department may contract with a nonprofit health insurer or community-based
organization to administer or operate the pilot program; provided that the
department shall allow the operator to access state-backed reinsurance or risk
stabilization support during the pilot program.
�

The department shall promote collaboration between the operator of the
pilot program and local health systems, federally qualified health centers, and
safety-net providers in the State to implement the pilot program.

����
(e)
�
The
department may:

����
(1)
�
Issue
premium subsidies or vouchers to eligible individuals enrolled in the pilot
program; and

����
(2)
�
Accept
employer contributions for eligible individuals enrolled in the pilot program;

provided
that any subsidy, voucher, or contribution shall be portable and shall follow
the individual without imposing compliance or administrative obligations on the
State or an employer.
�

����
(f)
�
The
department shall use funding from general appropriations for the implementation
of the pilot program.
�
The department
shall apply for any federal subsidies, matching funds, or waivers, including
but not limited to waivers under section 1332 of the Affordable Care Act, and
section 1115 of the Social Security Act of 1935, as applicable, to carry out
the pilot program.

����
(g)
�

The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 necessary
for the purposes of the pilot program.

����
(h)
�
The
department shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days
prior to the convening of the 2027, 2028, and 2029 regular sessions that
includes the following:

����
(1)
�
Enrollment
data;

����
(2)
�
Health
outcomes;

����
(3)
�
Fiscal
impact;

����
(4)
�
Program
sustainability; and

����
(5)
�
Proposed
legislation.

����
(i)
�

The pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2029.

����
(j)
�

For the purpose of this Act:

����
"Affordable Care Act" means the federal
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, public law 111-148, as amended.

����
"Department" means the department
of human services.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval
and shall be repealed on June 30, 2029.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHS;
DCCA; Health Coverage Continuity Pilot Program; Bronze Level; Catastrophic
Plan; Subsidies; Waivers; Vouchers; Employer Contributions; Portability; Reports

Description:

Establishes a three-year Health Coverage Continuity Pilot
Program within the Department of Human Services, in consultation with the
Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, to assist individuals who have lost
Medicaid health insurance coverage and lack access to other health insurance
options.
�
Authorizes the Department of
Human Services to contract with a nonprofit health insurer or community-based
organization to operate the Pilot Program; provided that the Department shall allow
the operator to access state-backed reinsurance or risk stabilization support
for the operator of the Pilot Program.
�
Authorizes the Department of Human Services
to: (1) Issue premium subsidies or vouchers; and (2) Accept employer
contributions; provided that the benefit shall be portable and follow the
individual without imposing compliance or administrative obligations on the
State or an employer.
�
Requires reports
to the Legislature.
�
Repeals 6/30/2029.

The summary description
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not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.