Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii SB2271: Relating to Hospital Licensing.
Status: Signed into law, July 10, 2026
Requires the Department of Health to adopt rules to allow hospitals to demonstrate compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State through accreditation or certification by any accreditation or certification organization recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to hospital licensing.
From the enrolled text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HOSPITAL LICENSING. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that The Joint Commission is the most widely used accreditation organization for hospitals in the United States. The legislature further finds that other accreditation organizations have also been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and also provide accreditation to hospitals. These organizations include the Accreditation Commission for Health Care, Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality, and DNV Healthcare. Currently, The Joint Commission is the only accreditation organization authorized in the State to provide accreditation that demonstrates a hospital's compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the department of health to adopt rules to allow hospitals to demonstrate compliance with all licensing inspections required by the State through accreditation or certification by any 2026-2392 SB2271 CDl SMA.docx Page S.B. NO. ' H.D. C.D. accreditation or certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. SECTION 2. Section 321-14.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsections (c) to (e) to read as follows: " (c) The rules [may] sh^dd^ provide that accreditation or certification by [The--Joirnt Commission] an accreditation organization or certification organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services demonstrates a hospital's compliance with all licensing inspections required …
Sponsors
- Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2) · primary sponsor
- Michelle Kidani (D, 18)
- Angus McKelvey (D, 6)
- Stanley Chang (D, 9)
- Troy Hashimoto (D, 5)
Latest actions
- : Act 221, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1323).
- : Act 221, 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1323).
- : 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; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
- : Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
- : Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
- : Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 221-26) as amended in (CD 1).
- : 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
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; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (May 6, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Representative(s) Matayoshi. (May 1, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Conference Committee Vote (May 1, 2026): 2 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1) (April 14, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- CPC: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (April 7, 2026): 11 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Medicaid, Rules, Hospital Licensing, DOH
Common questions
- What is SB2271?
- SB2271 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Hospital Licensing.
- What does SB2271 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to hospital licensing.
- What is the status of SB2271?
- Signed into law as of July 10, 2026. Latest action: Act 221, on 07/09/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1323). (July 10, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB2271?
- Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2), with 4 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB2271?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2271&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.