RELATING TO PHARMACY.

Budget Taxes

Active

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

Sponsor: SAYAMA, CHUN, GARRETT, ILAGAN, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, LEE, M., MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MORIKAWA, OLDS, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS, WOODSON
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact amount of the fee is not specified in the official source material.

Pharmacy Workforce Assessment Fund

This bill establishes a special fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts in Hawaii, funded by fees on pharmacy licenses and permits.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts.
Imposes a fee on every license and permit issued by the board that will be transferred into the special fund.

Who It Names or Affects

Pharmacists who need to renew their licenses or permits will pay a new fee.
The University of Hawaii will manage the fund and use it for pharmacist workforce activities.

Terms To Know

pharmacist workforce assessment: Activities that help understand how many pharmacists are needed in different areas and plan for their recruitment and retention.
special fund: A specific account set up to collect money for a particular purpose, like supporting pharmacist workforce activities.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of the fee that pharmacists will pay.
It is unclear how much funding will be available from the special fund each year.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: The amendment establishes a new fee for pharmacists and pharmacy businesses to support workforce assessment and planning efforts at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy.

Adds a pharmacist workforce assessment fee on licenses, permits, and applications issued by the board.
Establishes a special fund to collect these fees and use them for activities related to assessing and planning the pharmacy workforce in Hawaii.

The exact amount of the fees is not specified in the provided text.
Details on how the funds will be used are outlined but do not include specific financial allocations or amounts.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment establishes a new fee for pharmacists and pharmacy-related businesses in Hawaii, which will be used to support the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy's efforts to assess and plan the pharmacist workforce.

Adds a new section to Chapter 304A of Hawaii Revised Statutes to establish a special fund for the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy, which will receive funds from various sources including a newly established pharmacist workforce assessment fee.
Amends Chapter 461 of Hawaii Revised Statutes by adding a new section that requires pharmacists and certain pharmacy-related businesses to pay an assessment fee.
Updates sections in Chapters 461 and 304A to include the requirement for paying the pharmacist workforce assessment fee when renewing licenses or permits.

The exact amount of the fees is not specified in the provided text, only that they will be determined under subsection (b) of section 461-.
Details on how the special fund will be administered and specific uses for the funds are outlined but may require further clarification or additional regulations.

HD3

Hawaii published version HD3

Plain English: The amendment establishes a new fund to support the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy's efforts in assessing and planning for pharmacist workforce needs, including collecting fees from licenses and permits.

Creates a special fund called the 'Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund' to be used for pharmacist workforce assessment and planning activities.
Requires pharmacists and pharmacies to pay an additional fee when renewing their licenses or permits, which will go into this new fund.
Updates existing laws to include these fees in license renewal processes.

The exact amount of the pharmacist workforce assessment fee is not specified in the provided text and needs further clarification.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a new fund and fee to support the University of Hawaii at Hilo's Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy in assessing and planning for the state’s pharmacy workforce.

Creates a special fund called the 'Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy special fund' to be administered by the university of Hawaii.
Establishes a pharmacist workforce assessment fee that will be collected from licenses and permits issued by the board, with specific amounts for different types of licenses and permits.
Requires the board to collect these new fees along with existing application, license, and permit fees.

The exact amount of the pharmacist workforce assessment fee is not specified in the provided text.

Bill History

2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from EDU/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3392) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-25 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.
2026-03-25 S
The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Awa.
2026-03-22 S
The committee(s) on EDU/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-26 2:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-12 S
Referred to EDU/CPN, WAM.
2026-03-12 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-12 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 370).
2026-03-10 H
Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 03-10-26.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1097-26) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-25 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none 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. 679-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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.
2026-02-11 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) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).
2026-02-11 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 132-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-02-06 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-06-26 2:05PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to HED, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO PHARMACY.
Pharmacy; Pharmacists; Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund; Pharmacist Workforce Assessment Fees; Appropriation ($)
Establishes the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts. Establishes the pharmacist workforce assessment fee. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2161

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2161

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to pharmacy
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds there is a need to
support the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy to ensure the quality of
health care and improve access to care for the people of the State.
�
With further resources, the college can
proactively address issues of the State's current health care crisis and
leverage pharmacists to fill gaps in care related to medication management.
�
Pharmacists are the most accessible health
care providers and strongly embedded as a trusted resource in many remote
communities.
�
The college could leverage
pharmacists across the health care spectrum to recruit and retain highly
qualified pharmacists to practice in the State, create a plan for an innovative
pharmacy practice model, and serve as the resource for the pharmacy profession
as the medical system shifts to a value and team-based care model where
pharmacy will play an integral role in patient outcomes.

����
The purpose of this Act is to
establish a pharmacist workforce assessment fee to fund activities of the
Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy to support pharmacist workforce assessment
and planning efforts.

����
SECTION 2.
�
Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to part V, subpart C, to be appropriately
designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�304A-
�
Daniel
K. Inouye college of pharmacy special fund.
�

(a)
�
There is established the Daniel K. Inouye
college of pharmacy special fund, to be administered and expended by the
university of Hawaii.

����
(b)
�
The following shall be deposited into the
special fund:

����
(1)
�
Appropriations
by the legislature;

����
(2)
�
Pharmacist
workforce assessment fees established pursuant to section 461- ;

����
(3)
�
Grants,
donations, gifts, or other income received for the purposes of the special
fund; and

����
(4)
�
Interest earned
or accrued on moneys in the special fund.

����
(c)
�
Moneys in the special fund shall be used to
support the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy's activities related to
pharmacist workforce assessment and planning within the State; provided that
the pharmacist workforce assessment fees transferred and deposited into the
special fund pursuant to section 461- shall be used to
support pharmacist workforce assessment and planning efforts, including the
recruitment and retention of pharmacists, for rural and medically underserved
areas of the State.
�
These efforts shall
include but not be limited to:

����
(1)
�
Maintaining
accurate pharmacist workforce assessment information and providing or updating
personal and professional information, which shall be maintained in a secure
database;

����
(2)
�
Providing loan
repayment to pharmacists who commit to working in medically underserved areas
of the State as part of the Hawaii state loan repayment program administered by
the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy; and

����
(3)
�
Providing
scholarships to qualifying pharmacy students, to be determined by the Daniel K.
Inouye college of pharmacy.

����
(d)
�
The Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy may
disclose information specific to any pharmacist only with the express written
consent of that pharmacist.
"

����
SECTION 3.
�
Chapter 461, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�461-
�
Pharmacist
workforce assessment fee.

�
(a)
�
There
shall be assessed upon every license and permit issued by the board a
pharmacist workforce assessment fee, as determined under subsection (b), that
shall be transferred and deposited into the Daniel K. Inouye college of
pharmacy special fund established under section 304A- .

����
(b)
�
The pharmacist workforce assessment fee shall
be as follows:

����
(1)
�
$ ,
for each renewed license as a pharmacist;

����
(2)
�
$ ,
for each new or renewed wholesale prescription drug distributor license;

����
(3)
�
$ ,
for each new or renewed pharmacy permit under section 461-14; and

����
(4)
�
$ ,
for each new or renewed permit under section 461-15.
"

����
SECTION
4
.
�
Section 461-8,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (a) and (b) to read
as follows:

����
"
(a)
�
All licenses and permits issued by the board,
except temporary licenses issued under section 461-7, shall be renewed
biennially on or before December 31 of each odd-numbered year.
�
Failure to pay the biennial fee and
pharmacist
workforce assessment fee and
to satisfy the continuing education
requirement on or before December 31 of each odd-numbered year, shall
constitute a forfeiture of the license as of the date of expiration.
�
Failure to pay the biennial fee
and
pharmacist workforce assessment fee
on or before December 31 of each
odd-numbered year shall constitute a forfeiture of the permit as of the date of
expiration.

����
(b)
�

Any license or permit forfeited pursuant to subsection (a) may be
restored within three years upon payment of any penalty fee, the current
biennial fees, and the renewal fee
and pharmacist workforce assessment fee

for the next biennium, if applicable, upon submission of proof of compliance
with the continuing education requirement for the prior biennium, and upon
meeting any other requirements specified in rules adopted pursuant to chapter
91."

����
SECTION
5
.
�
Section 461-16,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as
follows:

����
"(a)
�
The board shall collect application, license,
and permit fees
and the pharmacist workforce assessment fee
for each
permit to operate a pharmacy or for each license to operate as a wholesale
prescription drug distributor and a fee for the issuance of a permit in
accordance with section 461-15(a)(1), (5), (6) and (7)."

����
SECTION 6.
�
The director of commerce and consumer affairs
shall disburse on a quarterly basis from the compliance resolution fund,
established pursuant to section 26-9(o), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the credit
of the Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy special fund established pursuant
to section 304A- , Hawaii Revised Statutes, all moneys
collected from the pharmacist workforce assessment fee assessed pursuant to
section 461- , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
SECTION 7.
�
There is appropriated out of the compliance
resolution fund the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to be deposited into the
Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy special fund established pursuant to
section 304A- , Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
The sum shall be reimbursed from the
Daniel K. Inouye college of pharmacy special fund to the compliance resolution
fund by July 1, .

����
SECTION 8.
�
There is appropriated out of the Daniel K.
Inouye college of pharmacy special fund the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the purposes of the
special fund as authorized under section 304A- (c), Hawaii
Revised Statutes.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 9.
�
Statutory material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory
material is underscored.

����
SECTION 10.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Pharmacy;
Pharmacists; Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund; Pharmacist
Workforce Assessment Fees; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy Special Fund to support pharmacist
workforce assessment and planning efforts.
�

Establishes the pharmacist workforce assessment fee.
�
Appropriates funds.

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