RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.

Budget Healthcare

Active

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

Sponsor: LOWEN, ILAGAN, KAHALOA, KAPELA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KUSCH, TARNAS
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: 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).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the exact date it will take effect, but mentions July 1, 2026.

Funding for New Outpatient Care Center in West Hawaii

This bill provides $50 million from the state's general revenues to plan, design, prepare the site, and build a new outpatient care center in North Kona.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates $50 million from the state's general revenues for planning, designing, preparing the site, and constructing an outpatient care center in North Kona.

Who It Names or Affects

People living in North Kona who will have better access to medical care once the outpatient center is built.
The Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, which must use the funds for the project.

Terms To Know

Outpatient Care Center: A medical facility where patients receive treatment without staying overnight in a hospital.
Appropriation: Money set aside by the government for specific purposes, like building projects or services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only funds planning and construction of an outpatient care center; it does not cover ongoing operations.
It is unclear how many jobs will be created as a result of this project.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment appropriates funds from the state's general revenues to plan, design, and construct a new outpatient care center in North Kona.

Appropriates money for planning, designing, and building an outpatient care center in North Kona.

The exact amount of funds appropriated is not specified.
The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect and likely contains a typographical error.

Bill History

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 (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 355-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-13 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.
2026-02-10 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Friday, 02-13-26 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE WEST HAWAII REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM.
West Hawaii Regional Health Care System; North Kona; Outpatient Care Center; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds for the planning, design, site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1978

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1978

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the west hawaii regional health care system.

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

����
SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that the West
Hawaii community is in need of a new hospital in North Kona.
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The legislature further finds that, pursuant
to a needs assessment that was completed in 2024, "a growing community
such as the one in [the North Kona region] can support a thriving hospital,
expanded services, and integrated medical group" and that establishing a
new hospital would provide more convenient access to critical services and
shorten travel times, resulting in improved health outcomes for the region.
�

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The
legislature additionally finds that a new hospital in North Kona will help with
recruiting physicians to the island of Hawaii, which will help address the
island's ongoing struggles with physician shortages.
�
The new hospital will also create new jobs
and opportunities for the growing West Hawaii region.

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The
legislature also finds that The Queen's Health Systems and the West Hawaii
region of the Hawaii health systems corporation recently signed a memorandum of
understanding to develop an outpatient care center in Kona, which will include
office space and clinical services.
�
Once
this outpatient care center is completed, with state funding, The Queen's
Health Systems has committed to building a new adjacent hospital.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the plans, design, and
construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $50,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the planning, design,
site work, and construction of a new outpatient care center in North Kona.

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The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the Hawaii health systems corporation for the
purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

West Hawaii
Regional Health Care System; North Kona; Outpatient Care Center; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds for
the planning, design, site work, and construction of a new
outpatient care center in North Kona.

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