HB1974 • 2026

RELATING TO HEALTH.

Budget

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: TAKAYAMA, AMATO, BELATTI, CHUN, ICHIYAMA, ILAGAN, IWAMOTO, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KITAGAWA, KUSCH, LEE, M., MARTEN, MATSUMOTO, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PERRUSO, POEPOE, REYES ODA, SHIMIZU, SOUZA, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TODD, WOODSON
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Transmitted to Governor.
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.

What This Bill Does

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)

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.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: HB1974 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1974 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1974 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB1974 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1974 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1974 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB1974 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB1974 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
1974 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-07 H
Transmitted to Governor.
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 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).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 177-26).
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 177-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-05-01 S
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.
2026-05-01 H
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.
2026-04-30 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-28 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 4:00PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-27 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
2026-04-23 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).
2026-04-22 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Moriwaki Co-Chair; Fevella.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Olds, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
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. 648) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-04-14 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-10 S
One Day Notice 04-14-26.
2026-04-10 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3703) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-08 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-06 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-25 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-25 S
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3192) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey.
2026-03-17 S
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to HHS, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 70).
2026-03-05 H
Passed Third Reading with none 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. 841-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-27 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M..
2026-02-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 02-27-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-18 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from HLT/HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 341-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-06 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, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-06 H
The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Hartsfield, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT/HSH on Friday, 02-06-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to HLT/HSH, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

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)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1974

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1974

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to health
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that hearing loss is a
significant public health concern that affects individuals from keiki to
kupuna.
�
National and state-level data
indicate that tens of thousands of Hawaii residents experience some degree of
hearing loss, including many who report serious hearing difficulty or deafness.
�
Hearing loss becomes increasingly common with
age, affecting roughly one-third of adults in their sixties, a majority of
adults in their seventies, and most adults in their eighties.

����
The legislature further finds that despite
the prevalence of hearing loss, it remains widely underdiagnosed and
undertreated.
�
Although newborn hearing
screenings are in place, Hawaii lacks a coordinated statewide approach to
screening and follow-up for school-age children and adults.
�
Primary care providers often receive limited
training and reimbursement incentives to screen for hearing loss, hearing aids
and assistive devices remain prohibitively expensive for many residents, and
pathways to diagnosis and treatment are frequently fragmented and difficult to
navigate.
�
Untreated hearing loss
increases risk of cognitive decline and dementia, falls, social isolation and
mental health issues, reduced workforce participation, caregiver burden, and
costly institutional care.
�
There is
critical need for a coordinated statewide strategy to address these medical, social,
educational, and economic impacts.

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The purpose of this Act is to
require the state health planning and development agency to develop a
comprehensive state plan on hearing loss focused on improving access,
affordability, awareness, and early detection of hearing loss in collaboration
with community stakeholders, relevant advisory boards, and state agencies.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 323D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to
read as follows:

����
"
�323D-
�
State
plan on hearing loss.
�
(a)
�

The state agency shall develop and publish a state plan on hearing
loss.
�
The state plan on hearing loss
shall include but not be limited to:

����
(1)
�
An assessment
of current policies, efforts, and initiatives addressing hearing loss in the State;

����
(2)
�
Epidemiological
data on hearing loss in the State, including prevalence by age group,
geographic area, and socioeconomic status;

����
(3)
�
An analysis of
public awareness and social perception of hearing loss;

����
(4)
�
Identification
of gaps in screening and early detection for school-age children, adults, and
kupuna;

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(5)
�
Information on
access to care and treatment, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, and
audiological services;

����
(6)
�
Information on
workforce development and training for primary care providers, educators, and
hearing health professionals;

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(7)
�
Associated
health concerns, including cognitive decline, dementia, mental health impacts,
fall risk, and communication barriers;

����
(8)
�
Recommendations
for improving access to services, affordability of assistive technologies, and
availability of communication supports, including state policy suggestions; and

����
(9)
�
Identification
of pilot or demonstration projects to expand hearing screening, tele-audiology
access, and community-based outreach.

����
(b)
�
In developing the state plan on hearing loss,
the state agency may consult with pertinent stakeholders, including:

����
(1)
�
Community-based
organizations serving individuals with hearing loss;

����
(2)
�
Health care
providers, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists; and

����
(3)
�
Individuals
experiencing hearing loss.

����
(c)
�
The state agency shall publish and submit an
initial state plan on hearing loss to the legislature no later than twenty days
prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027 and an update report
pursuant to subsection (d) to the legislature no later than twenty days prior
to the convening of the regular session of 2029 and each odd-numbered regular
session thereafter.

����
(d)
�
The state agency shall prepare an update
report on the state plan on hearing loss covering the most recently completed
fiscal biennium.
�
The update report shall
include information on progress made toward the goals of the state plan on
hearing loss.
�
In addition, an update
report shall include:

����
(1)
�
An
implementation work plan specifying the tasks, timelines, and milestones for
each goal;

����
(2)
�
Efforts taken
by the State to achieve the goals and strategies identified in the most recent
state plan on hearing loss;

����
(3)
�
Recommendations
for state policy, program development, or legislation relating to hearing loss,
and communication access; and

����
(4)
�
A review of
services and initiatives coordinated among public and private agencies to meet
the needs of individuals with hearing loss and their families.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the general
revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may
be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the state health planning and
development agency to develop and publish the state plan on hearing loss,
including:

����
(1)
�
Coordinating the
development of the state plan on hearing loss through project management and
interagency collaboration;

����
(2)
�
Engaging stakeholders
statewide, including kupuna, health care providers, educators, and
community-based organizations, to identify needs, gaps, and opportunities;

����
(3)
�
Consulting with
experts and technical advisors in hearing health, aging, and disability
services to inform plan recommendations; and

����
(4)
�
Drafting,
reviewing, and publishing the state plan on hearing loss for submission to the
legislature.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the state health planning and development agency for the purposes
of this Act.

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SECTION 4.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

State
Health Planning and Development Agency; State Plan on Hearing Loss;
Appropriation

Description:

Requires
and appropriates funds for the State Health Planning and Development Agency to
develop and publish a state plan on hearing loss.

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