HB1648 • 2026

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Labor

Active

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

Sponsor: MATAYOSHI, GRANDINETTI, LEE, M., TAKAYAMA
Last action: 2026-03-17
Official status: Re-Referred to LBT/HHS, CPN.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary text contradicts the candidate explanation's claim about stopping healthcare providers from dispensing nonprescription drugs. The bill actually prohibits such actions, which is different from allowing them under certain circumstances as stated in the candidate explanation.

Workers' Compensation Drug Rules

This bill prohibits health care providers from prescribing or dispensing nonprescription, over-the-counter, or nonlegend drugs to workers' compensation patients.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits health care providers from prescribing or dispensing nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation cases.

Who It Names or Affects

Health care providers who treat workers' compensation patients
Workers' compensation patients

Terms To Know

Nonprescription drug: A medicine that you can buy without a doctor's prescription.
Over-the-counter drug: Another name for nonprescription drugs, which are medicines available without a prescription.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not explain what happens if someone breaks this rule.
It is unclear how this will affect the cost of workers' compensation insurance policies.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment adds a new law that stops health care providers from giving out nonprescription, over-the-counter, or nonlegend drugs to workers' compensation patients.

Adds a new section in Chapter 386 of Hawaii Revised Statutes prohibiting health care providers from dispensing nonprescription, over-the-counter, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation cases.

The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems unusual and may be a placeholder or error.
It does not provide details on how the prohibition will be enforced or what penalties might apply.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment allows health care providers to give nonprescription, over-the-counter, or nonlegend drugs to workers' compensation patients if the drug is needed and costs no more than what major pharmacies charge.

Health care providers can now dispense nonprescription, over-the-counter, or nonlegend drugs for injured employees under specific conditions.
The cost of these drugs must not exceed the usual retail price at major pharmacy chains in Hawaii.

The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect and likely needs to be updated with a realistic implementation date.

Bill History

2026-03-17 S
Re-Referred to LBT/HHS, CPN.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to LBT/HHS, WAM.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 256).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1046-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-26 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Marten, Pierick.
2026-02-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 02-26-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 633-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-02-17 H
The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to LAB, CPC, referral sheet 1
2026-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-20 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.
Workers' Compensation; Nonprescription Drugs; Over-The-Counter Drugs; Nonlegend Drugs
Authorizes health care providers to dispense nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation patients, under certain circumstances. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1648

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1648

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to workers' Compensation
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the
State's existing reimbursement rates for nonprescription drugs,
over-the-counter drugs, or nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation are not
clearly provided.
�
The legislature
further finds that this omission has led some to charge inflated rates for
these drugs, which drives up the cost of workers' compensation insurance
policies.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to prohibit health care providers from prescribing
or dispensing nonprescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, or nonlegend drugs
for workers' compensation.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 386, Hawaii Revised Statutes,
is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read
as follows:

����
"
�386-
�
Nonprescription, over-the-counter, or
nonlegend drugs; prohibition.
�
(a)
�

No health care provider shall prescribe or dispense a nonprescription
drug, over-the-counter drug, or nonlegend drug.

����
(b)
�

For purposes of this section, "nonprescription drug",
"over-the-counter drug", or "nonlegend drug" has the same
meaning as in section 328-1.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act does not affect rights and duties
that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun
before its effective date.

����
SECTION
4.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Workers'
Compensation; Nonprescription Drugs; Over-The-Counter Drugs; Nonlegend Drugs;
Prescription or Dispensing Prohibited

Description:

Prohibits
health care providers from prescribing or dispensing nonprescription drugs,
over-the-counter drugs, and nonlegend drugs for workers' compensation patients.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.