# Hawaii HB 688: RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.

Hawaii HB 688, RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Jeanne Kapela (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB688-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 688
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: DOH, Community Health Workers, Rural Community Health Worker Pilot Program, Preventive Services, Social Determinants of Health, Appropriation, HLT, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Department of Health to establish and administer a three-year Rural Community Health Worker Pilot Program that enables community health workers to provide outreach, education, training, and navigation to individuals residing in rural communities in the State and address social determinants of health. Appropriates funds.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tina Nakada Grandinetti (Democratic), House

## Actions (4)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB688_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB688_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB688_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB688_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2964: RELATING TO PROPERTY INSURANCE.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2964-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB688-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).