SB 1565: RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2025-01-22
Current Status:
Failed
(2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Recognizes individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers who are subject to regulation and control.
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THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
1565 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to acupuncture.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 436E-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§436E-1[]] Declaration of necessity for regulation and
control. The legislature hereby finds and
declares that the practice of acupuncture is a theory and method for treatment
of illness and disability and for strengthening and invigorating the body and
as such affects the public health, safety, and welfare, and therefore there is
a necessity that individuals practicing acupuncture be recognized
as essential health care providers and subject to regulation and control."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Acupuncture Practitioners; Regulation and Control
Description:
Recognizes individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers who are subject to regulation and control.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to CPN. |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 505) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to CPN. |
| Feb 5, 2025 | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. |
| Jan 31, 2025 | The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Jan 27, 2025 | Referred to HHS, CPN. |
| Jan 23, 2025 | Introduced and passed First Reading. |
| Jan 22, 2025 | Pending Introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Feb 5, 2025 | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| 5 Element Acupuncture of Hawaii | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| Academy of Integrated Medicine Hawaii | ** Support | |
| Academy of Integrated Medicine Hawaii | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| Acupuncture & Wellness Center, LLC | ** Support | |
| Acupuncturists of Hawaii | ** Support | |
| Brandon Flewelling, L.Ac | ** Support | |
| Brandon Flewelling, L.Ac. | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| Dao del Mar | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| ICAOM (faculty) | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| ICAOM (student) | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine | ** Support | |
| Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ICAOM) | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| Kailua Acupuncture Clinic | ** Support | |
| Mala Healing Arts | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| Maunakea Acupuncture & Wellness Center | *** Support | Feb 5, 2025 |
| Needles of Hope Inc. | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 505
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 1565
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 1565 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ACUPUNCTURE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to recognize individuals practicing acupuncture as essential health care providers.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Brandon Flewelling, L.Ac; Academy of Integrated Medicine Hawaii; Kailua Acupuncture Clinic; Needles of Hope Inc.; Acupuncturists of Hawaii; Institute of Clinical Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; Acupuncture & Wellness Center, LLC; and thirty individuals.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Acupuncture.
Your Committee finds that acupuncture is becoming more recognized in the health care, scientific, and public communities as an effective form of health care for many different ailments and has become a mainstream modality that plays a vital role in modern health care. Your Committee further finds that as research around holistic and integrative medicine expands, it is imperative that the State's regulations keep pace with these developments. This measure modernizes statutory language to align with current professional standards and activities provided by licensed acupuncturists.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1565 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,
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________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 5, 2025 | SB1565_TESTIMONY_HHS_02-05-25_.PDF |
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):