HawaiiHB 25762025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)House

RELATING TO BACKGROUND CHECKS.

Sponsored By: Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Clarifies and streamlines background check requirements for healthcare facility applicants, operators, and direct patient access employees. Effective 1/1/2050. (SD2)

DOHHealthcare FacilitiesBackground ChecksApplicantsOperatorsHHS, JDC

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New fees and penalties for healthcare screening

Starting July 1, 2026, facilities may pass required fingerprint-check and name-check fees to applicants, operators, and direct patient access employees. A facility run from a private home may also charge adults who live there and are not clients. The law does not set fee amounts. The Department of Health may deny or suspend a license, revoke it, or impose fines or other penalties when a covered person refuses a required check or information, has disqualifying information, or may pose a risk to patients or residents.

Healthcare workers face new screening rules

Starting July 1, 2026, applicants, operators, and direct patient access workers at covered healthcare facilities must complete required background checks. Checks cover people with access to patients, clients, or their records and property; some people with only incidental, limited, or supervised access are excluded. Name-based checks search Hawaii abuse, criminal, sex-offender, and nurse aide records, plus matching out-of-state records when required. Operators and direct patient access workers must repeat name-based checks every two years; adults living in a healthcare facility run from a private home must also repeat them. Out-of-state records are not needed for a repeat check if the person has not lived or worked in another state since the last check. Workers cannot start until required checks are complete and may work only if no disqualifying information is found or an appeal clears it; some people with qualifying prior fingerprint checks are exempt from new fingerprinting. Hospitals may conduct name-based checks and must keep proof of compliance, while fingerprint-check results are available only to the Department of Health or its designee.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jenna Takenouchi

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Terez Amato

    Democratic • House

  • Daisy Hartsfield

    Democratic • House

  • KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Lisa Marten

    Democratic • House

  • Gregg Takayama

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 210 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 51 • No: 0

House vote • 4/29/2026

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....

Yes: 4 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/29/2026

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....

Yes: 3 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/14/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2026

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 2/24/2026

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2026

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA...

Yes: 50 • No: 0

House vote • 2/13/2026

The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act 042, 05/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1142).

    5/26/2026Senate
  2. Act 042, on 05/26/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1142).

    5/26/2026House
  3. Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).

    5/8/2026Senate
  4. Transmitted to Governor.

    5/7/2026House
  5. Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

    5/6/2026Senate
  6. Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

    5/6/2026House
  7. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).

    5/6/2026House
  8. 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) San Buenaventura, Rhoads, McKelvey; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    4/29/2026Senate
  9. The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Tarnas, Keohokapu-Lee Loy; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

    4/29/2026House
  10. Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 77-26) as amended in (CD 1).

    4/29/2026House
  11. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.

    4/29/2026House
  12. Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 77-26).

    4/29/2026Senate
  13. 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

    4/29/2026Senate
  14. Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-29-26 3:45PM; CR 329.

    4/28/2026Senate
  15. Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; McKelvey.

    4/23/2026Senate
  16. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 738).

    4/23/2026House
  17. House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Tarnas Co-Chairs; Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Alcos.

    4/20/2026House
  18. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).

    4/20/2026Senate
  19. Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).

    4/17/2026Senate
  20. House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

    4/16/2026House
  21. Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

    4/14/2026Senate
  22. Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 704) in amended form (SD 2).

    4/14/2026House
  23. Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3808) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).

    4/10/2026Senate
  24. 48 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.

    4/10/2026Senate
  25. The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in JDC were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    4/9/2026Senate

Bill Text

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