Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB847: Relating to Psychologists.
Status: Chaptered, July 16, 2026
Allows qualified psychologists limited authority to prescribe psychotropic medications to patients under the care of the psychologist in certain circumstances.
What the bill says
A bill foran act relating to psychologists. part i.
From the enrolled text:
A BILL FORAN ACT RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. PART I SECTION 1. The legislature finds that there is limited access to mental health care treatment services for residents across the State. The delivery of comprehensive, accessible, and affordable mental health care has been demonstrably enhanced by collaborative practice among licensed clinical psychologists with prescriptive authority and medical doctors in federal facilities and programs and in states that have authorized prescriptive authority for psychologists. The legislature finds that providing limited prescriptive authority to qualified, licensed clinical psychologists, subject to supervision by a licensed medical doctor, could help make comprehensive mental health care more accessible to medically underserved residents of the State. The legislature acknowledges that the Health Resources and Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services has officially designated much of the State, including isolated rural locations 2026-2512 SB847 GDI SMA.docx ■Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinii S.B. NO. SS.2 H.D. C.D. and urban areas with high population densities, as a mental health professional shortage area. This designation highlights the critical need for expansion of available mental health services and development of a corps of mental health professionals to serve the currently unmet needs of Hawaii's population. The legislature has previously authorized prescription privileges for advanced practice registered nurses, optometrists, dentists, podiatrists, and physician assistants. These practitioners have been granted prescriptive authority …
Sponsors
- Dru Kanuha (D, 3) · primary sponsor
- Michelle Kidani (D, 18)
- Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2)
- Tim Richards (D, SD-004)
Latest actions
- : Became law without the Governor's signature, Act 266, 07/16/2026, (Gov. Msg. No. 1370).
- : Enrolled to Governor.
- : Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
- : Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
- : Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Grandinetti, Hashem, Hussey, Iwamoto, Kong, Perruso voting no (7) and none excused (0).
- : Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Moriwaki. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none).
- : Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- : Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 94-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- : 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
- : Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 94-26).
Votes
- Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1) (May 6, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Grandinetti, Hashem, Hussey, Iwamoto, Kong, Perruso voting no (7) and none excused (0) (May 6, 2026): 44 yea, 7 nay, passed
- none. (April 29, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Conference Committee Vote (April 29, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Amato, Kong voting no (2) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1) (April 14, 2026): 48 yea, 2 nay, passed
- CPC: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (April 9, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Medicaid, Rules, Counties, Psychologists, DOH, Reports
Common questions
- What is SB847?
- SB847 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Psychologists.
- What does SB847 do?
- In its own words: A bill foran act relating to psychologists. part i.
- What is the status of SB847?
- Chaptered as of July 16, 2026. Latest action: Became law without the Governor's signature, Act 266, 07/16/2026, (Gov. Msg. No. 1370). (July 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB847?
- Dru Kanuha (D, 3), with 3 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB847?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=847&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.