Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB299: Relating to Loan Repayment for Healthcare Professionals.
Status: Failed, April 2, 2026
Appropriates funds for the Healthcare Education Loan Repayment Program.
What the bill says
A bill foran act relating to loan repayment for healthcare professionals.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FORAN ACT RELATING TO LOAN REPAYMENT FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that a persistent workforce shortage in the health care industry has created difficulties for patients trying to access care, including specialized care such as behavioral health services. One of the reasons that providers often cite for the difficulty of practicing in Hawaii is financial hardship, with the high cost of living frequently driving providers to leave the State. The legislature further finds that in 2023, the legislature appropriated a total of $30,000,000 over fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to fund the healthcare education loan repayment program, which assists health care professionals in Hawaii in repaying their health care educational loans in exchange for medical service in Hawaii. By all accounts, the program has been extremely successful, helping to improve the lives of health care professionals in the State and making it easier for them to remain and practice in Hawaii. SB299 SD2 LRB 25-1339.docx ■■■IIIIIIHIIIIIIHIIII Page 2 S.B. NO. S.D. The legislature also finds that eight hundred ninety residents were assisted by the healthcare education loan repayment program, which allocated nearly $13,000,000 in 2023. Of the eight hundred ninety recipients, two hundred thirty-eight were primary care providers, and two hundred fifty were behavioral health specialists. The categories of health care providers who were awarded …
Sponsors
- Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2) · primary sponsor
- Henry Aquino (D, 19)
- Stanley Chang (D, 9)
- Kurt Fevella (R, 20)
- 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
- : Received notice of the discharge of all House Conferees (Hse. Com. No. 457).
- : House Conferee(s) discharged.
- : Received notice of all Senate conferees being discharged (Sen. Com. No. 409).
- : Senate Conferee(s) discharged.
- : Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- : Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-25 3:30PM; Conference Room 329.
- : Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 789).
- : Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Kim Co-Chair; Hashimoto, Fevella.
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 731).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Takayama, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Alcos.
Votes
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kapela excused (2) (April 4, 2025): 48 yea, 1 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 1, 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; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Garrett, Kapela (March 21, 2025): 45 yea, 1 nay, passed
- HLT: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 19, 2025): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2) (March 4, 2025): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 26, 2025): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Appropriations, DOH, Loan Repayment For Healthcare Professionals
Common questions
- What is SB299?
- SB299 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Loan Repayment for Healthcare Professionals.
- What does SB299 do?
- In its own words: A bill foran act relating to loan repayment for healthcare professionals.
- What is the status of SB299?
- 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 SB299?
- Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2), with 9 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB299?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=299&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.