# Hawaii SB 226: RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Hawaii SB 226, RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Brandon J.C. Elefante (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-SB226-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 226
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-13
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Health Insurance, Prescription Drugs, Step Therapy Protocol, Clinical Review Criteria, Clinical Practice Guidelines, Exceptions, HHS, CPN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes requirements for the clinical review criteria and clinical practical guidelines used to establish step therapy protocols. Provides a process for a patient to request an exception to using step therapy protocols. Establishes insurance coverage requirements relating to the use of step therapy protocols and standards to appeal an adverse step therapy exception determination.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Brandon J.C. Elefante (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (4)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-01-17: Referred to HHS, CPN. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-13: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB226_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB226_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB226_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB226_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [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 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
- [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-SB226-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).