Hawaii SB298: Relating to Human Services.

What the bill says

A bill for an act relating to human services.

From the engrossed text:

A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that most of the State's kupuna would prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible. In-home services are key to ensuring kupuna and people with disabilities stay in their own homes. These services include helping with activities of daily living such as meal preparation, cleaning, bathing, mobility support, and other forms of personal care. ; In a 2021 quantitative research study among Hawaii residents forty-five years of age and older, sixty-five per cent were extremely or very concerned about being able to age in place, and eighty-three per cent of those surveyed said it was extremely or very important to them to stay in their homes as they get older. Helping individuals remain in their own homes instead of in institutional nursing facilities is also far less costly.. The legislature further finds that reimbursement rates that do not have medicare rates for equivalent services, such as in-home care services, are reviewed and determined by the 2025-1686 SB298 SD1 SMA.docx Page 2 S.B. NO. - i department of human services at least every five years. The last review of home and community-based reimbursement rates for residential services by the department of human services' med-QUEST division was conducted through a third-party study by the …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2) · primary sponsor
• Henry Aquino (D, 19)
• Stanley Chang (D, 9)
• Lynn DeCoite (D, 7)
• Kurt Fevella (R, 20)
• Carol Fukunaga (D, 11)
• Troy Hashimoto (D, 5)
• Dru Kanuha (D, 3)
• Angus McKelvey (D, 6)
• Sharon Moriwaki (D, 12)
• Karl Rhoads (D, 13)
• Tim Richards (D, SD-004)

Latest actions

1. April 2, 2026: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
2. April 1, 2026: House Conferee(s) discharged.
3. March 20, 2026: Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
4. March 20, 2026: Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
5. December 8, 2025: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
6. April 22, 2025: Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.
7. April 15, 2025: Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 789).
8. April 15, 2025: Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Aquino Co-Chair; Hashimoto, Fevella.
9. April 15, 2025: Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731).
10. April 14, 2025: House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Kapela, Olds, Alcos.

Votes

• Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2) (April 3, 2025): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
• FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 28, 2025): 14 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2) (March 18, 2025): 49 yea, 0 nay, passed
• HSH: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 13, 2025): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
• Report adopted; Passed Third Reading (March 4, 2025): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
• WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (February 27, 2025): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SB298?

SB298 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Human Services.

What does SB298 do?

In its own words: A bill for an act relating to human services.

What is the status of SB298?

Failed as of April 2, 2026. Latest action: Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457). (April 2, 2026).

Who sponsored SB298?

Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2), with 11 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SB298?

On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=298&year=2026