# Hawaii SB 556: RELATING TO RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS.

Hawaii SB 556, RELATING TO RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) Senate bill sponsored by Lynn DeCoite (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-12 (The committee on HHS deferred the measure.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB556-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 556
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO RURAL EMERGENCY HOSPITALS.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-02-12, The committee on HHS deferred the measure.
- Sponsor: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 9
- Subjects: DOH, Rural Emergency Hospitals, Licensure, Medicaid, HHS, CPN/WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Creates a framework for the licensure of rural emergency hospitals by the Department of Health. Provides for the continuation of Medicaid policy protections for hospitals transitioning to a rural emergency hospital designation.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: AQUINO
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mike Gabbard (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Angus L.K. McKelvey (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (5)

- 2025-02-12: The committee on HHS deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2025-02-07: The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-12-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HHS, CPN/WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2025-01-17: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB556_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB556_.pdf)

## 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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB556_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/SB556_.pdf)

## 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)
- [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-SB556-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).