# Hawaii HB 954: RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

Hawaii HB 954, RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Gregg Takayama (Democratic); status first reading, last action 2025-01-23 (Introduced and Pass First Reading.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB954-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 954
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.
- Status: first reading
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-21
- Last action: 2025-01-23, Introduced and Pass First Reading.
- Sponsor: Gregg Takayama (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Insurance Commissioner, Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act, Prior Authorization, Utilization Review Entity, Adverse Determination, Health Care Services, Reports, HLT, CPC, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for prior authorization process in the State, including disclosure and notice requirements for utilization review entities regarding their prior authorization requirements and restrictions; qualifications and criteria for prior authorization review and appeals personnel; prior authorization process for non-urgent and urgent health care services, including the time frame by which utilization review entities must render a decision; adverse determination and appeal processes; prohibition of prior authorization for emergency health care services and medication for opioid use disorder; payments to health care providers; length and duration of prior authorizations; and exemptions for certain health care providers. Requires health insurers to utilize NCPDP SCRIPT Standard electronic prior authorization transactions by 1/1/2026. Requires utilization review entities to submit annual reports to the Insurance Commissioner each year. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to submit annual reports to the Legislature. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to adopt rules by 1/1/2026.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Gregg Takayama (Democratic), House

## Actions (3)

- 2025-01-23: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-23: Referred to HLT, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 3 (House)
- 2025-01-21: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB954_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB954_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB954_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB954_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [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-HB954-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).