HB870 • 2026

RELATING TO MEDICAID.

Budget Children Healthcare

Active

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

Sponsor: AMATO, BELATTI, HASHEM, HOLT, IWAMOTO, KAHALOA, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, MIYAKE, PERRUSO, POEPOE, QUINLAN, SOUZA
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on how the funds will be used beyond expanding eligibility, so this claim was removed.

Expanding Medicaid Coverage for Young Children

This bill requires the Department of Human Services to expand Medicaid eligibility to all children from birth to age five, regardless of their family's income, and provides funding for this expansion.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to create rules that allow all children under five years old in Hawaii to get Medicaid coverage without regard to household income.
Provides $317 million from state funds to help pay for this expansion over two fiscal years.

Who It Names or Affects

Children in Hawaii from birth to age five
Families of young children who may qualify for Medicaid
The Department of Human Services

Terms To Know

Medicaid: A government program that helps people with low income pay for medical care.
Department of Human Services (DHS): The state agency responsible for managing programs like Medicaid.

Limits and Unknowns

It is not clear how many families will benefit from this expansion.
The bill does not specify what happens after the two-year funding period ends.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO MEDICAID.
Medicaid Eligibility; Med-QUEST; Children; DHS; Appropriation ($)
Directs the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to expand Medicaid eligibility to all children in the State from birth to age 5 years without regard to household income. Appropriates moneys.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB870

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

870

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to medicaid
.

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

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SECTION 1.
�
The department
of human services shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, that expand eligibility for the State's medicaid programs to all
children in the State from birth to age five years, with no income requirement.

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SECTION 2.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $317,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal
year 2026-2027 for expanding eligibility for the State's medicaid programs to
all children in the State from birth to age five years.

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The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services
for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 3.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Medicaid
Eligibility; Med-QUEST; Children; DHS; Appropriation

Description:

Directs
the Department of Human Services to adopt rules to expand Medicaid eligibility
to all children in the State from birth to age 5 years without regard to
household income.
�
Appropriates moneys.

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