RELATING TO CARE HOMES.

Budget Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: CHUN, HARTSFIELD, KAHALOA, KILA, MIYAKE, POEPOE
Last action: 2026-05-07
Official status: Transmitted to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated for the program.

Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program

This bill establishes a program to assist care homes in Central Oahu with structural and operational improvements to enhance their resilience against natural disasters, climate-related risks, and extended utility disruptions.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to help eligible care home facilities within the 96797 zip code on the island of Oahu implement structural and operational improvements.
Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the Office of Health Care Assurance of the Department of Health, to establish this program.
Provides funds for grants, rebates, or contracted services to assist care homes in implementing resilience improvements such as roof reinforcement, backup power systems, and emergency preparedness training.
Requires a report on the progress and impact of the pilot program before the next legislative session.

Who It Names or Affects

Licensed care home facilities within the 96797 zip code in Central Oahu.
Residents and employees of these care homes who will benefit from improved safety measures.

Terms To Know

Kupuna: An individual aged sixty or older, or someone with specific care needs.
Pilot program: The Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program established by this bill.

Limits and Unknowns

The program will sunset on June 30, 2029.
Details of the funding amount are not specified in the provided text.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: HB2498 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2498 CD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2498 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII S.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB2498 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2498 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2498 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARE HOMES .

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: HB2498 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2498 HD2 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2498 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARE HOMES .

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: HB2498 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2498 SD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2498 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
2 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; none voting no (0) 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. 169-26).
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. 169-26) 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: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Inouye; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Morikawa, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Marten.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:40 PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 5:10 PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 4:30 PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-05-01 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 3:30 PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-30 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 05-01-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-29 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-28 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:45PM in conference room 016.
2026-04-27 H
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:50PM in conference room 016.
2026-04-24 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 741).
2026-04-23 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; Lee, C. Co-Chairs; Inouye.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Marten, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Olds, Souza.
2026-04-16 S
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
2026-04-14 H
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
2026-04-10 H
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 560) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-04-10 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2026-04-09 S
One Day Notice 04-10-26.
2026-04-09 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3627) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-06 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
2026-04-01 S
The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3231) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-23 S
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in PSM were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on PSM deferred the measure until 03-23-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-16 S
The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 3:15PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to PSM, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 113).
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. 833-26), 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.
2026-02-19 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-19 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 521-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-17 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hartsfield.
2026-02-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-17-26 9:30AM 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 HSH with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1).
2026-02-11 H
Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 198-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSH.
2026-02-06 H
The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 02-06-26 10:15AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-02 H
Referred to PBS, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 6
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CARE HOMES.
Central and Leeward Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program; Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Care Homes; Structural and Operational Resilience Improvements; Report; Appropriation ($)
Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to establish a Central and Leeward Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to assist eligible care home facilities to implement structural and operational resilience improvements. Requires a report to the Legislature. Sunsets on 6/30/2029. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2498

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2498

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to care homes
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that many
licensed care homes in central Oahu operate in aging facilities and serve
vulnerable populations, including kupuna, individuals with disabilities, and
medically fragile residents.
�
These
facilities are particularly susceptible to damage from natural disasters,
climate-related hazards, and prolonged power outages.
�
Strengthening the physical infrastructure and
disaster resilience of these care homes is critical to safeguarding resident
health and safety, minimizing emergency response needs, and supporting
community stability and recovery.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to establish the central Oahu care home community
resilience pilot program to assist eligible licensed care home facilities
within the 96797 postal zip code on the island of Oahu in enhancing their
resilience against natural disasters, climate-related risks, and extended
utility disruptions.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�

The Hawaii emergency management agency, in coordination with the office
of health care assurance of the department of health, shall establish the
central Oahu care home community resilience pilot program.

����
(b)
�
The purpose of the pilot program shall be to
assist eligible licensed care home facilities within the 96797 postal zip code
on the island of Oahu to implement structural and operational resilience
improvements; provided that eligible structural and operational resilience
improvements may include but are not limited to:

����
(1)
�
Roof reinforcement, hurricane clips, and
wind-resistant materials;

����
(2)
�
Impact-resistant windows, storm shutters, and
strengthened doors;

����
(3)
�
Backup power systems and battery storage for
essential medical equipment;

����
(4)
�
Air filtration or cooling enhancements for
extreme heat or wildfire smoke;

����
(5)
�
Fire-resistant landscaping and defensible
space; and

����
(6)
�
Shelter-in-place or safe room modifications.

����
(c)
�
The pilot program may provide, as funds
permit:

����
(1)
�
Grants, rebates, or contracted services for
structure hardening;

����
(2)
�
Facility vulnerability assessments for wind,
heat, wildfire smoke, and power disruption risks;

����
(3)
�
Technical assistance and training in
preparedness and continuity of operations; and

����
(4)
�
Support for emergency power and cooling
solutions for medically fragile residents.

����
(d)
�
The following care home facilities within the
96797 postal zip code on the island of Oahu shall be eligible for the pilot
program:

����
(1)
�
Adult residential care homes;

����
(2)
�
Expanded adult residential care homes;

����
(3)
�
Community care foster family homes;

����
(4)
�
Developmental disabilities domiciliary homes;

����
(5)
�
Intermediate care facilities; and

����
(6)
�
Any other licensed residential care home
serving vulnerable populations within the 96797 postal zip code on the island
of Oahu.

����
(e)
�
The pilot program shall prioritize assistance
to care home facilities that:

����
(1)
�
Serve low-income residents, kupuna, or persons
with disabilities;

����
(2)
�
House residents dependent on life-sustaining
medical equipment;

����
(3)
�
Are located in high-risk hazard zones;

����
(4)
�
Operate in structures more than twenty-five
years old; and

����
(5)
�
Demonstrate financial need.

����
(f)
�
Each care home facility shall adopt an
evacuation plan for its residents and employees.

����
(g)
�
The
Hawaii emergency
management agency
, in collaboration with the office of health care
assurance of the department of health, shall submit a report to the legislature
no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of
2027.
�
The report shall include:

����
(1)
�
The number and types of care homes assisted;

����
(2)
�
Completed assessments and improvements;

����
(3)
�
Estimated reductions in disaster-related
risks;

����
(4)
�
Stakeholder feedback; and

����
(5)
�
Recommendations for extending or expanding the
pilot program statewide, including proposed legislation.

����
(h)
�
The Hawaii emergency management agency may
adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement this Act.

����
(i)
�
As used in this Act:

����
"Kupuna"
means an individual who is sixty years of age or older or who has specific care
needs.

����
"Pilot
program" means the central Oahu care home community resilience pilot
program.

����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the central Oahu care
home community resilience pilot program pursuant to this Act.

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

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program;
Hawaii Emergency Management Agency; Office of Health Care Assurance; Care
Homes; Structural and Operational Resilience Improvements; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to establish
a Central Oahu Care Home Community Resilience Pilot Program to assist eligible
care home facilities to implement structural and operational resilience
improvements.
�
Requires a report to the Legislature.

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