# Hawaii SB 1359: RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND BASE COMPOSITE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION.

Hawaii SB 1359, RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND BASE COMPOSITE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-15 (Act 054, 05/15/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1154).) (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1359-2025
- As of: 2026-10-27
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 1359
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO THE HAWAII EMPLOYER-UNION HEALTH BENEFITS TRUST FUND BASE COMPOSITE MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-21
- Last action: 2025-05-15, Act 054, 05/15/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1154).
- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: EUTF, Employer Base Composite Monthly Contribution, LAB, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 8 (178 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Effective 1/1/2026, increases the employer base composite monthly contribution to the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund by 5.2 percent of the 2025 employer base composite monthly contribution. Effective 1/1/2027, requires that the employer base composite monthly contribution be calculated based on the change in Medicare Part B premiums from 2025 to 2026 and at a two-year lag thereafter. (HD2)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Hawaii employers pay more toward health coverage: cost, low. Beginning January 1, 2026, Hawaii’s Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund base monthly employer contribution rises 5.2% above its January 1, 2025 amount. Starting in 2027, each calendar year’s contribution adjusts the prior year-end amount using earlier Medicare Part B premium changes. The form…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-16 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-08 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-28 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-13 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-11 | House | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-28 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 23 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-19 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2025-01-31 | Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (36)

- 2025-05-15: Act 054, 05/15/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1154). (Senate)
- 2025-05-15: Act 054, on 05/15/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1154). (House)
- 2025-04-16: Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fevella, Ihara). (Senate)
- 2025-04-16: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 806). (House)
- 2025-04-16: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Reconsideration of action taken on 04-10-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Reading on 04-16-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: One Day Notice 04-16-25 (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of reconsideration and Senate agreement (Sen. Com. No. 786). (House)
- 2025-04-10: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 682). (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-10: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 779). (House)
- 2025-04-08: Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-04-04: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1992) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-04: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-08-25. (House)
- 2025-03-28: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Ward. (House)
- 2025-03-25: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 03-28-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1180) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-13: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Ward, Woodson excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-11: The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Reyes Oda. (House)
- 2025-03-06: Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 03-11-25 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-04: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to LAB, FIN, referral sheet 18 (House)
- 2025-02-28: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 54). (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 784) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-02-27: One Day Notice 02-28-25. (Senate)
- 2025-02-19: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-25 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 203) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-31: The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in LBT were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Ihara, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-01-28: The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-27: Referred to LBT, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-23: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_HD2_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1154_.PDF)
- SB1359_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_HD1_.HTM)
- SB1359_HD2: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_HD2_.HTM)

## Related bills

- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)
- SB 1044: RELATING TO THE STABILIZATION OF PROPERTY INSURANCE. (signed)
- SB 1231: RELATING TO PARENTAGE. (signed)
- SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT. (signed)
- HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_HD2_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1154_.PDF)
- [SB1359_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_HD1_.HTM)
- [SB1359_HD2 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB1359_HD2_.HTM)

## Related
- [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)
- [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)
- [SB 935: RELATING TO GOVERNMENT.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB935-2025)
- [HB 703: RELATING TO KUPUNA HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB703-2025)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1359-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).