Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1961: Relating to Health Care.
Status: Signed into law, July 7, 2026
Prohibits persons from interfering with another person's access to or from a health care facility or disrupting the normal functioning of a health care facility. Makes violations a petty misdemeanor. Establishes a private right of action for individuals and health care facilities harmed as a result of interference with a health care facility. Authorizes the Attorney General to bring an action for injunctive or other equitable relief.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to health care.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that safe access to health care services is vital for the health and safety of all residents of the State. Individuals seeking or providing health care should be able to access health care facilities without fear, intimidation, or any form of harassment. The legislature therefore declares that interference with health care facilities should be prohibited and subject to civil and criminal penalties. The purpose of this Act is to protect safe and unobstructed access to health care for patients and their providers by prohibiting persons from interfering with another person's access to a health care facility and establishing civil and criminal penalties for violations. This Act is not intended to affect any rights under federal or state law on peaceful expressive conduct, including labor demonstrations or exercising the right to strike. 2026-1756 HB1961 SDl SMA.docx ■iiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Page 2 H.B. NO. S h j SECTION 2. The Hawaii Revised Statutes is amended by adding a new chapter to title 19 to be appropriately designated and to read as follows: "CHAPTER INTERFERENCE WITH HEALTH CARE FACILITIES § -1 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter: "Aggrieved party" means any of the following persons or entities, when aggrieved by conduct in violation of this chapter: (1) A person who …
Sponsors
- Jeanne Kapela (D, 5) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Della Belatti (D, 26)
- Tina Grandinetti (D, 20)
- Hartsfield, Daisy (D, 36)
- Mark Hashem (D, 19)
- Linda Ichiyama (D, 31)
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
- Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6)
- Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D, 2)
- Darius Kila (D, 44)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
Latest actions
- : Act 202, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1304).
- : Act 202, 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1304).
- : Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 823).
- : Transmitted to Governor.
- : Passed Final Reading as amended in SD 1 with Representative(s) Hussey voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Iwamoto, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (10) and Representative(s) Evslin excused (1).
- : House agrees to Senate amendment(s).
- : Received notice of House reconsideration of action in disagreeing to the amendments proposed by the Senate (Hse. Com. No. 815).
- : Reconsideration of action taken on 04-16-26.
- : Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).
- : House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
Votes
- Final Reading as amended in SD 1 with Representative(s) Hussey voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Iwamoto, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu votin (April 23, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Final Reading as amended in SD 1 with Representative(s) Hussey voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Cochran, Garcia, Gedeon, Iwamoto, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu votin (April 23, 2026): 40 yea, 10 nay, passed
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading (April 14, 2026): 21 yea, 4 nay, passed
- JDC: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 3 yea, 1 nay, passed
- HHS: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 18, 2026): 4 yea, 1 nay, passed
- Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon, Kong, Matsumoto, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (8) and none (March 10, 2026): 43 yea, 8 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Health Care, Penalties, Counties, Prohibition
Common questions
- What is HB1961?
- HB1961 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Health Care.
- What does HB1961 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to health care.
- What is the status of HB1961?
- Signed into law as of July 7, 2026. Latest action: Act 202, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1304). (July 7, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1961?
- Jeanne Kapela (D, 5), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1961?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1961&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.