HawaiiSB 14412025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)SenateWALLET

RELATING TO THE TRANSITION OF THE OAHU REGIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM FROM THE HAWAII HEALTH SYSTEMS CORPORATION INTO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Sponsored By: Ronald D. Kouchi (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Repeals the requirement to transfer the Oahu Regional Health Care System (Oahu Region) from the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation to the Department of Health. Repeals certain changes to the HRS that were made by Act 212, SLH 2021. Requires the Oahu Region and the Department of Health to enter into a formal memorandum of agreement regarding the care of certain psychiatrically stable patients transferred or discharged from the Hawaii State Hospital to an appropriate Oahu Region facility, subject to certain conditions. Requires the Oahu Region to submit a report to the Legislature. (HD2)

HHSCDOHOahu Regional Health Care SystemTransferRepealAgreementReportHLT, FIN

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Care rules for state hospital referrals

Starting July 1, 2025, the Oahu regional health care system and the state health department must agree on care for qualifying Hawaii State Hospital referrals by November 30, 2025. Patients must be psychiatrically stable and need institutional care. Every referred patient gets a clinical assessment. Patients admitted to Leahi Hospital must receive medically necessary hospital support, including on-call access and psychiatric consultations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Oahu hospitals can request operating funds

Starting July 1, 2025, the Oahu regional health care system must request operating funds for Leahi Hospital and Maluhia with HHSC’s budget requests. Any approved funding is tracked under program ID HTH 215. The law does not provide or guarantee funding; money must be approved through an appropriation.

Oahu health system transfer rules change

Starting July 1, 2025, the law cancels the required transfer of Oahu’s health care system to the state health department. It also removes a state department branch as an option for taking over a regional system or facility. Real property can transfer only by lease.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ronald D. Kouchi

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 191 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/16/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 23 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 3/28/2025

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

Yes: 14 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025

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

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 3/14/2025

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

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/4/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/27/2025

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

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/27/2025

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

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/5/2025

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

Yes: 4 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act 062, 05/16/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1162).

    5/16/2025Senate
  2. Act 062, on 05/16/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1162).

    5/16/2025House
  3. Passed Final Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fevella, Ihara).

    4/16/2025Senate
  4. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 806).

    4/16/2025House
  5. Enrolled to Governor.

    4/16/2025Senate
  6. Reconsideration of action taken on 04-10-25 in disagreeing to the House amendments.

    4/15/2025Senate
  7. Senate agrees with House amendments. Placed on the calendar for Final Reading on 04-16-25.

    4/15/2025Senate
  8. One Day Notice 04-16-25

    4/15/2025Senate
  9. Received notice of reconsideration and Senate agreement (Sen. Com. No. 786).

    4/15/2025House
  10. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 690).

    4/10/2025Senate
  11. Senate disagrees with House amendments.

    4/10/2025Senate
  12. Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 779).

    4/10/2025House
  13. 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.

    4/8/2025House
  14. Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2001) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.

    4/4/2025House
  15. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-08-25.

    4/4/2025House
  16. 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.

    3/28/2025House
  17. Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 03-28-25 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/25/2025House
  18. Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1315) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

    3/18/2025House
  19. 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, Ward excused (2).

    3/18/2025House
  20. The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

    3/14/2025House
  21. Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Friday, 03-14-25 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

    3/11/2025House
  22. Pass First Reading

    3/6/2025House
  23. Referred to HLT, FIN, referral sheet 19

    3/6/2025House
  24. 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.

    3/4/2025Senate
  25. Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 336) in amended form (SD 2).

    3/4/2025House

Bill Text

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