Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1976: Relating to Dementia.
Status: In committee, May 1, 2026
Requires the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, fire chiefs, Law Enforcement Standards Board, and Department of Health to provide or require the provision of at least 1 hour of dementia‑specific training for first responders, including law enforcement officers, fire first responders, and emergency medical services personnel. Requires the Executive Office on Aging to review and recommend dementia-specific training curricula that address the recognition and signs of Alzheimer's disease and related types of dementia.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to dementia.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEMENTIA. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are an urgent and growing public health challenge in Hawaii. Between 2020 and 2025, the number of Hawaii residents living with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to have increased by 20.7 per cent. Approximately 31,200 Hawaii residents aged sixty-five years or older currently live with Alzheimer's. Long-term trends indicate that this figure could double to approximately sixty-two thousand individuals by 2050. This significant growth in the number of individuals living with Alzheimer's disease is expected to increase emergency department utilization, hospital readmissions, and overall health care costs. Data show that individuals with dementia experience 1,248 emergency department visits per one thousand persons annually, reflecting a high rate of readmittance and frequent interaction with emergency medical services personnel. The legislature further finds that six in ten people living with dementia will wander, often repeatedly, and may forget 2026-1850 HB1976 SDl SMA.docx Page 2 H.B. NO 1976 H.D. S.D. their name or address or become disoriented even in familiar places. When individuals with dementia are lost, they may exhibit anxiety, fear, or hostility, which may escalate into aggressive behaviors. As the disease progresses and societal norms are forgotten, incidents may include filing false police reports, victimization, indecent exposure, and shoplifting. People with Alzheimer's disease …
Sponsors
- Cory Chun (D, 35) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Della Belatti (D, 26)
- Luke Evslin (D, 16)
- Andrew Garrett (D, 22)
- Tina Grandinetti (D, 20)
- Hartsfield, Daisy (D, 36)
- Mark Hashem (D, 19)
- Linda Ichiyama (D, 31)
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
- Kim Iwamoto (D, 25)
- Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6)
Latest actions
- : Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 5:30PM in Conference Room 329.
- : Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
- : Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 4:00PM in conference room 329.
- : Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 3:45PM in conference room 329.
- : Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).
- : Senate Conferees Appointed: McKelvey Chair; Fukunaga, Moriwaki Co-Chairs.
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Belatti, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Garcia.
- : Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
- : House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
Votes
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading (April 10, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 7, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- PSM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 23, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HHS: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 23, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3) (March 6, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 4, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Appropriations, Counties, Dementia, DOH
Common questions
- What is HB1976?
- HB1976 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Dementia.
- What does HB1976 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to dementia.
- What is the status of HB1976?
- In committee as of May 1, 2026. Latest action: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday, 05-01-26 at 5:30PM in Conference Room 329. (May 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1976?
- Cory Chun (D, 35), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1976?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1976&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.