# Hawaii SB 2491: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.

Hawaii SB 2491, RELATING TO HEALTH CARE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-20 (Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2558) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2491-2026
- 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 2491
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-22
- Last action: 2026-02-20, Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2558) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.
- Sponsor: Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: Health Care, Qualified Health Care Providers, Health Care Providers, Scope of Practice, Access to Health Care, Licensure, Certification, Education, Insurance, Professions and Vocations, Pain Patient's Bill of Rights, Uniform Probate Code, Children, Medical Care for Minors, Capacity Determinations, Child Protective Act, Penal Code, HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 2 (9 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes a broad definition of "qualified health care provider" in numerous areas of existing law. Clarifies and standardizes references to specific health care providers. Updates outdated language to reflect correct terminology. Makes numerous clarifying and conforming amendments to support these changes, including but not limited to chapters related to health, education, insurance, professions and vocations, the pain patient's bill of rights, the Uniform Probate Code, minors, the Child Protective Act, and the Penal Code. Repeals the obsolete Hawaii Health Corps. Effective 1/30/2050. Implementation effective 7/1/2028. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Jarrett Keohokalole (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Rachele Lamosao (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | Senate | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (8)

- 2026-02-20: Reported from HHS/CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2558) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-20: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. (Senate)
- 2026-02-06: The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-02: The committee(s) on HHS/CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 9:00AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Referred to HHS/CPN, JDC/WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_.PDF)
- SB2491_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_SD1_.HTM)

## 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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_.PDF)
- [SB2491_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2491_SD1_.HTM)

## 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 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2491-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).