HB1788 • 2026

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.

Education Healthcare

Active

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

Sponsor: PERRUSO, AMATO, BELATTI, GRANDINETTI, HUSSEY, IWAMOTO, KAPELA, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SOUZA
Last action: 2026-01-26
Official status: Referred to HLT, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how the state will balance health care with other essential public services or how affordability will be ensured.

Proposing Health Care as a Right in Hawaii

This bill proposes to add an amendment to the Hawaii Constitution that would make access to affordable health care a fundamental right for all residents, subject to limitations balancing other essential public services.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new section to Article I of the Hawaii Constitution stating that every resident has the right to cost-effective and clinically appropriate health care as a fundamental right.
Requires the state to ensure that health care is affordable for all residents.
Limits enforcement so it does not interfere with funding for public schools and other essential services.

Who It Names or Affects

All residents of Hawaii
The State government

Terms To Know

Fundamental Right: A basic right that the government must protect for everyone, like freedom of speech or religion.
Clinically Appropriate: Health care that is suitable and necessary based on medical needs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the state will ensure affordable health care for all residents.
It's unclear what specific actions the government must take to balance health care with other public services.

Bill History

2026-01-26 H
Referred to HLT, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-22 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT.
Constitutional Amendment; Affordable Health Care; Fundamental Right (ConAm)
Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to establish access to affordable health care as a fundamental right, subject to limitations balancing other essential public services.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1788

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1788

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

PROPOSING
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH
access to HEALTH CARE As a FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Article I of the Constitution of the State of
Hawaii is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to
read as follows:

"
RIGHT
TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE

����
Section .
�
It shall be the obligation of the State to
ensure that every resident of the State has access to cost-effective,
clinically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right.
�
This obligation shall be balanced against the
public interest in funding public schools and other essential public services.
�
Any remedy arising from an action to enforce
this section shall not interfere with the balance described in this section.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
The question to be printed on the
ballot shall be as follows:

����
"Shall
the Constitution of the State of Hawaii be amended to make it the obligation of
the State to ensure that every resident of Hawaii has access to cost-effective,
clinically appropriate, and affordable health care as a fundamental right;
provided that this obligation is balanced against the public interest in
funding public schools and other essential public services, and that any remedy
to enforce this obligation shall not interfere with this balance?"

����
SECTION
3.
�
New constitutional material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
4.
�
This amendment shall take effect upon
compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of
Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Constitutional
Amendment; Affordable Health Care; Fundamental Right

Description:

Proposes
an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Hawaii to establish access to affordable
health care as a fundamental right, subject to limitations balancing other
essential public services.

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