# Hawaii HB 544: RELATING TO PET INSURANCE.

Hawaii HB 544, RELATING TO PET INSURANCE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-19 (Act 079, 05/19/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1179).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB544-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 544
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO PET INSURANCE.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-05-19, Act 079, 05/19/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1179).
- Sponsor: Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Pet Insurance, Regulation, Establishment, CPN, JDC
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 9 (193 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 3

## Summary

Beginning 1/1/2026, establishes a regulatory framework specifically for pet insurance based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' Pet Insurance Model Act. (CD1)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Clearer pet insurance terms and refunds: benefit, low. Starting January 1, 2026, Hawaii’s rules cover pet insurance policies issued to Hawaii residents when sold, offered, or discussed in the state, and policies delivered or issued for delivery there. Insurers must explain exclusions, waiting periods, deductibles, coinsurance, limits, claim payments, a…
- Separate rules for pet wellness plans: benefit, low. Starting January 1, 2026, insurers and producers cannot market a separate wellness program as pet insurance or require you to buy one to get insurance. Program costs and terms must be clearly separate, coverage cannot duplicate the insurance policy, and ads must not mislead; required disclosures mu…
- Pet insurance rules protect existing coverage: mixed, low. Starting January 1, 2026, insurers must use and share the law’s definitions for terms they use in pet policies. Insurers may exclude preexisting conditions, but must prove an exclusion applies; a condition covered by a policy cannot be treated as preexisting at renewal. Waiting periods for illnesse…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kirstin Kahaloa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-23 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-23 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-03 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 25 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-27 | Senate | The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-14 | Senate | The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-04 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-27 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | House | The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 9 | 0 |   |

## Actions (44)

- 2025-05-19: Act 079, 05/19/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1179). (Senate)
- 2025-05-19: Act 079, on 05/19/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1179). (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-05-01: Transmitted to Governor. (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2). (House)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 44) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-24: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-24: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 44). (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25 (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-04-23: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Rhoads, Fukunaga, Richards; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-23-25 3:30PM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2025-04-21: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-22-25 1:30PM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2025-04-17: Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-21-25 1:30PM in conference room 224. (House)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732). (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Senate Conferees Appointed: Keohokalole Chair; Rhoads Co-Chair; Fukunaga, Richards, Awa. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 788). (House)
- 2025-04-14: House Conferees Appointed: Matayoshi Chair; Chun, Pierick. (House)
- 2025-04-08: Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 559). (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: House disagrees with Senate amendment (s). (House)
- 2025-04-03: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-04-03: Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 545) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-02: Reported from JDC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1510) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-04-02: One Day Notice 04-03-25. (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Gabbard, Chang, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) San Buenaventura. (Senate)
- 2025-03-25: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-27-25 10:40AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1256) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-03-21: The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 03-25-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: 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, Fukunaga, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) McKelvey, Richards. (Senate)
- 2025-03-07: The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-14-25 9:30AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 253). (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-03-06: Referred to CPN, JDC. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 810) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-02-27: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1; placed on the calendar for Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-02-19: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Chun, Ilagan, Iwamoto, Kong, Lowen, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama. (House)
- 2025-02-14: Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Wednesday, 02-19-25 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to CPC, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_CD1_.pdf)
- HB544_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_CD1_.HTM)
- HB544_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_HD1_.HTM)
- HB544_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_SD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1179_.PDF)

## Related bills

- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- HB 613: RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)
- SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_CD1_.pdf)
- [HB544_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_CD1_.HTM)
- [HB544_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_HD1_.HTM)
- [HB544_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_SD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB544_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1179_.PDF)

## Related
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [HB 613: RELATING TO HOMELESS YOUTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB613-2025)
- [SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1044-2025)
- [SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1231-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB544-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).