# Hawaii SB 447: RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM.

Hawaii SB 447, RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-07-03 (Act 291, 07/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1394).); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-27).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB447-2025
- 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 447
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-16
- Last action: 2025-07-03, Act 291, 07/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1394).
- Sponsor: Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: DOH, Department of Human Resources Development, Hiring Pilot Program, Reports, HLT, LAB, FIN
- Touches household money: yes
- Roll calls: 13 (244 yes, 7 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

Establishes a Hiring Pilot Program within the Department of Health, which includes an amended hiring procedure for delegated position classifications, certain flexibilities regarding minimum qualifications for positions having a salary range at or below SR-10, the ability to directly hire certain individuals into a civil service position if certain conditions are met, and the authority to make certain temporary appointments at the merited civil service pay scale without step limitation. Applies to recruitments initiated before 7/1/2028. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Sunsets 7/1/2028. (CD1)

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More hiring routes for health workers: benefit, low. The law gives the Department of Health more ways to hire for jobs with recruitment started before July 1, 2028. For delegated jobs, the department can forward applications before checking minimum qualifications, but it must check the selected applicant before making an offer. For jobs at or below s…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-04-30 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 1 |   |
| 2025-04-30 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 47 | 3 |   |
| 2025-04-24 | House | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments.... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-24 | Senate | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS.... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-03 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 46 | 3 |   |
| 2025-03-28 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-18 | House | The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-14 | House | Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on LAB with none voting a... | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2025-03-12 | House | The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 8 | 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 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | Senate | The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 5 | 0 |   |
| 2025-02-10 | Senate | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 4 | 0 |   |

## Actions (51)

- 2025-07-03: Act 291, 07/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1394). (Senate)
- 2025-07-03: Act 291, on 07/03/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1394). (House)
- 2025-06-06: Notice of Intent to veto dated 06/06/2025 (Gov. Msg. No. 1301) (Senate)
- 2025-06-06: Notice of intent to veto (Gov. Msg. No. 1301) (House)
- 2025-05-02: Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 821). (Senate)
- 2025-05-02: Enrolled to Governor. (Senate)
- 2025-05-01: Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 888). (House)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 1 (Senator(s) Awa). Excused, 0 (none). (Senate)
- 2025-04-30: Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Garrett, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 113). (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25. (Senate)
- 2025-04-25: Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 113) as amended in (CD 1). (House)
- 2025-04-25: Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 04-30-25. (House)
- 2025-04-24: The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-04-24: The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Sayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Olds; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos. (House)
- 2025-04-23: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 799). (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-25 1:30PM; Conference Room 329. (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Sayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Olds, Alcos. (House)
- 2025-04-15: Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Aquino, Moriwaki Co-Chairs; Fevella. (Senate)
- 2025-04-15: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 789). (House)
- 2025-04-04: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 465). (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Senate disagrees with House amendments. (Senate)
- 2025-04-04: Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 590). (House)
- 2025-04-03: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1929), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-04-03: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-03-28: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. 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)
- 2025-03-20: Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1388) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-03-20: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-03-18: The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Reported from HLT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1230), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB. (House)
- 2025-03-14: Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on LAB with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt, Iwamoto, Ward excused (4). (House)
- 2025-03-14: Bill scheduled to be heard by LAB on Tuesday, 03-18-25 9:30AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-12: The committee on HLT recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Amato, Chun, Marten, Olds, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Garcia; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos. (House)
- 2025-03-07: Bill scheduled to be heard by HLT on Wednesday, 03-12-25 9:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-03-04: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to HLT, 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. 43). (House)
- 2025-02-27: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 777) 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: Reported from HHS/LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 529) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-14: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. (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: The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Keohokalole. (Senate)
- 2025-02-10: The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Lee, C., Ihara, Moriwaki, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2025-02-05: The committee(s) on HHS/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HHS/LBT, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_CD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1394_.PDF)
- SB447_CD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_CD1_.HTM)
- SB447_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_HD1_.HTM)

## 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
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_CD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/GM1394_.PDF)
- [SB447_CD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_CD1_.HTM)
- [SB447_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB447_HD1_.HTM)

## 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)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB447-2025 (as of 2026-10-27).