SB 2861: OWR; DHS; Comprehensive Plan; Kakou Pilot Program; Families and Children in Need; Eligible Families; Administering Agency; TANF
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-05-01
Current Status:
Passed
(2026-07-07: Act 200, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1302).)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Beginning 7/1/2028, authorizes the Department of Human Services to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program. (CD1)
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Authorizes the administering agency or agencies to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program if the Legislature authorizes the establishment of the pilot program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Authorizes the administering agency or agencies to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop a comprehensive plan to establish a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Sunsets on 6/30/2027. (SD2)
Establishes within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Expands eligibility for the $50 benefit under the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program established by Act 127, SLH 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits. (SD1)
Establishes within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Expands eligibility for the $50 benefit established by Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2861 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 2 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 2 |
|
|
|
C.D. 1 |
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the office of wellness and resilience, in consultation with the department of human services, to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
SECTION 2. (a) The office of wellness and resilience, in consultation with the department of human services, shall develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
(b) For the purposes of the kakou pilot program, the office of wellness and resilience shall create a plan to:
(1) Provide services for children in need, including child wellness visits;
(2) Distribute food boxes to eligible families, as needed;
(3) Provide counseling and related support services to eligible families with a focus on families exiting a foster family placement and other at-risk children as determined by the plan;
(4) Administer trauma-informed care services to eligible families and children at risk of neglect; and
(5) Provide any other related services to support families and children in need in accordance with this Act.
(c) The office of wellness and resilience may adopt policies and procedures necessary to develop the plan for the kakou pilot program and to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) The office of wellness and resilience shall:
(1) Submit a preliminary report of its comprehensive plan to develop the kakou pilot program, including any proposed legislation, a recommended implementation structure identifying the administering agency or agencies, and recommendations on whether the pilot program should be established, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027; and
(2) Submit a final report of its plan to the legislature no later than June 30, 2027.
(e) The planning period for the kakou pilot program shall expire on June 30, 2027.
(f) For the purposes of this Act, "eligible families" means families who meet eligibility criteria for the temporary assistance for needy families program, as determined by the department of human services, or any other families meeting standards and requirements recommended by the office of wellness and resilience in its comprehensive plan and approved by the administering agency or agencies; provided that such standards shall comply with applicable federal requirements.
SECTION 3. Beginning July 1, 2028, the department of human services, pursuant to section 2(d), is authorized and may expend temporary assistance for needy families funds for the purposes of the kakou pilot program, including $130,000 per year for an external evaluator to conduct data collection and to assess whether the pilot program meets at least one of the purposes of the temporary assistance for needy families program and whether the pilot program effectively addresses that purpose.
SECTION 4. If any part of this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, the conflicting part of this Act shall be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this Act in its application to the agencies concerned.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Report Title:
OWR; DHS; Comprehensive Plan; Kakou Pilot Program; Families and Children in Need; Eligible Families; Administering Agency; TANF
Description:
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Beginning 7/1/2028, authorizes the Department of Human Services to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program. (CD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2861 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 2 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the office of wellness and resilience, in consultation with the department of human services, to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
SECTION 2. (a) The office of wellness and resilience, in consultation with the department of human services, shall develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
(b) For the purposes of the kakou pilot program, the office of wellness and resilience shall create a plan to:
(1) Provide services for children in need, including child wellness visits;
(2) Distribute food boxes to eligible families, as needed;
(3) Provide counseling and related support services to eligible families with a focus on families exiting a foster family placement and other at-risk children as determined by the plan;
(4) Administer trauma-informed care services to eligible families and children at risk of neglect; and
(5) Provide any other related services to support families and children in need in accordance with this Act.
(c) The office of wellness and resilience may adopt policies and procedures necessary to develop the plan for the kakou pilot program and to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) The office of wellness and resilience shall:
(1) Submit a preliminary report of its comprehensive plan to develop the kakou pilot program, including any proposed legislation, a recommended implementation structure identifying the administering agency or agencies, and recommendations on whether the pilot program should be established, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027; and
(2) Submit a final report of its plan to the legislature no later than June 30, 2027.
(e) The planning period for the kakou pilot program shall expire on June 30, 2027.
(f) For the purposes of this Act, "eligible families" means families who meet eligibility criteria for the temporary assistance for needy families program, as determined by the department of human services, or any other families meeting standards and requirements recommended by the office of wellness and resilience in its comprehensive plan and approved by the administering agency or agencies; provided that such standards shall comply with applicable federal requirements.
SECTION 3. If the legislature authorizes the establishment of the kakou pilot program, beginning July 1, 2028, the administering agency or agencies identified in the report submitted pursuant to section 2(d) may expend temporary assistance for needy families funds for the purposes of the kakou pilot program, including $130,000 per year for an external evaluator to conduct data collection and to assess whether the pilot program meets at least one of the purposes of the temporary assistance for needy families program and whether the pilot program effectively addresses that purpose.
SECTION 4. If any part of this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, the conflicting part of this Act shall be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this Act in its application to the agencies concerned.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
OWR; DHS; Comprehensive Plan; Kakou Pilot Program; Families and Children in Need; Eligible Families; Administering Agency; TANF
Description:
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Authorizes the administering agency or agencies to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program if the Legislature authorizes the establishment of the pilot program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2861 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 2 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
H.D. 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the office of wellness and resilience, in consultation with the department of human services, to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
SECTION 2. (a) The office of wellness and resilience, in consultation with the department of human services, shall develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
(b) For the purposes of the kakou pilot program, the office of wellness and resilience shall create a plan to:
(1) Provide services for children in need, including child wellness visits;
(2) Distribute food boxes to eligible families, as needed;
(3) Provide counseling and related support services to eligible families with a focus on families exiting a foster family placement and other at-risk children as determined by the plan;
(4) Administer trauma-informed care services to eligible families and children at risk of neglect; and
(5) Provide any other related services to support families and children in need in accordance with this Act.
(c) The office of wellness and resilience may adopt policies and procedures necessary to develop the plan for the kakou pilot program and carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) The office of wellness and resilience shall submit a preliminary report of its comprehensive plan to develop the kakou pilot program, including any proposed legislation, a recommended implementation structure identifying the administering agency or agencies, and recommendations on whether the program should be established, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027, and shall submit a final report of its plan to the legislature no later than June 30, 2027.
(e) The planning period for the kakou pilot program shall expire on June 30, 2027.
(f) For the purposes of this Act, "eligible families" means families who meet eligibility criteria for the temporary assistance for needy families program, as determined by the department of human services, or any other families meeting standards and requirements recommended by the office of wellness and resilience in its comprehensive plan and approved by the administering agency or agencies; provided that such standards shall comply with applicable federal requirements.
SECTION 3. Beginning July 1, 2028, the agency or agencies identified pursuant to Section 2(d) may expend temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) funds for the purposes of the kakou pilot program, including $130,000 per year for an external evaluator to conduct data collection and to assess whether the kakou pilot program meets at least one of the purposes of the temporary assistance for needy families program and whether the kakou pilot program effectively addresses that purpose.
SECTION 4. If any part of this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, the conflicting part of this Act shall be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this Act in its application to the agencies concerned.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
OWR; DHS; Comprehensive Plan; Kakou Pilot Program; Families and Children in Need; Eligible Families; Administering Agency; TANF
Description:
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience, in consultation with the Department of Human Services, to develop a comprehensive plan by 6/30/2027 for the establishment of a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Requires the Office to submit preliminary and final reports to the Legislature on the plan and identify an administering agency or agencies for the pilot program. Authorizes the administering agency or agencies to expend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2861 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 2 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to require the office of wellness and resilience to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the office of wellness and resilience the responsibility to develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
(b) For the purposes of the kakou pilot program, the office of wellness and resilience shall create a plan to:
(1) Provide services for children in need, including child wellness visits;
(2) Distribute food boxes to eligible families, as needed;
(3) Provide counseling and related support services to eligible families with a focus on families exiting a foster family placement;
(4) Administer trauma-informed care services to vulnerable families and children in danger of neglect; and
(5) Provide any other related services to support families and children in need in accordance with this Act.
(c) The office of wellness and resilience may adopt policies and procedures necessary to implement the kakou pilot program and to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) The office of wellness and resilience shall submit a preliminary report of its findings and recommendations on the development of a kakou pilot program, including any proposed legislation and recommendations on whether the program should continue, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027, and shall submit a final report of its plan to the legislature no later than June 30, 2027.
(e) Beginning July 1, 2028, the office of wellness and resilience may expend temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) funds for the purposes of the kakou pilot program, including $130,000 per year for an external evaluator to conduct data collection and to assess whether the kakou pilot program meets at least one of the purposes of the temporary assistance for needy families program and whether the kakou pilot program effectively addresses that purpose.
(f) The planning period for the kakou pilot program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2027.
(g) For the purposes of this Act, "eligible families" means families who meet eligibility criteria for the temporary assistance for needy families program, or any other families meeting standards and requirements established by the office of wellness and resilience.
SECTION 3. If any part of this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, the conflicting part of this Act shall be inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding shall not affect the operation of the remainder of this Act in its application to the agencies concerned.
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2027; provided that section 2, subsection (e) shall not be repealed on that date.
Report Title:
OWR; Kakou Pilot Program; TANF; Child Wellness Visits; Food Boxes; Supportive Services; Wellness Benefit; Foster Family Placement; Med-QUEST; Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program; Eligible Recipient
Description:
Requires the Office of Wellness and Resilience to develop a comprehensive plan to establish a Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Sunsets on 6/30/2027. (SD2)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2861 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to:
(1) Utilize some of the unspent and unencumbered federal assistance moneys to establish within the office of wellness and resilience a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need; and
(2) Expand eligibility for the $50 benefit provided under the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program established by Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the office of wellness and resilience the kakou pilot program to support families in need.
(b) The kakou pilot program shall:
(1) Provide services for children in need, including child wellness visits;
(2) Distribute food boxes to eligible families, as needed;
(3) Provide counseling and related support services to eligible families with a focus on families exiting a foster family placement;
(4) Administer trauma-informed care services to vulnerable families and children in danger of neglect; and
(5) Provide any other related services to support families and children in need in accordance with this Act.
(c) The office of wellness and resilience may adopt policies and procedures necessary to implement the kakou pilot program and to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) The office of wellness and resilience shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations on the kakou pilot program, including any proposed legislation and recommendations on whether the program should continue, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.
(e) The office of wellness and resilience may expend temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) funds for the purposes of the pilot program.
(f) The kakou pilot program shall cease to exist on .
(g) For the purposes of this Act, "eligible families" means families receiving support from the temporary assistance for needy families program, and any other families meeting standards and requirements established by the office of wellness and resilience.
SECTION 3. Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is amended by amending section 1 as follows:
1. By amending subsection (b) to read:
"(b)
The pilot program shall pay $50 to each [state medicaid benefit] eligible
recipient for each completed well‑child
examination of that recipient parent's child; provided that only one
payment may be made per child each year."
2. By amending subsection (e) by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read:
""Eligible recipient" means a parent receiving support from the temporary assistance for needy families program, and any other parent meeting standards and requirements established by the office of wellness and resilience."
SECTION 4. If any part of this Act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition for the allocation of federal funds to the State, the conflicting part of this Act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict and with respect to the agencies directly affected, and this finding does not affect the operation of the remainder of this Act in its application to the agencies concerned.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, and shall be repealed on .
Report Title:
OWR; Kakou Pilot Program; TANF; Child Wellness Visits; Food Boxes; Supportive Services; Wellness Benefit; Foster Family Placement; Med-QUEST; Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program; Eligible Recipient
Description:
Establishes within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Expands eligibility for the $50 benefit under the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program established by Act 127, SLH 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
2861 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the Office of Wellness and Resilience.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to utilize some of the unspent and unencumbered federal assistance moneys to establish within the office of wellness and resilience a kakou pilot program to support families and children in need.
SECTION 2. (a) There is established within the office of wellness and resilience the kakou pilot program to support families in need.
(b) The kakou pilot program shall:
(1) Provide services for children in need, including child wellness visits;
(2) Distribute food boxes to eligible families, as needed;
(3) Provide counseling and related support services to eligible families with a focus on families exiting a foster family placement;
(4) Administer trauma-informed care services to vulnerable families and children in danger of neglect; and
(5) Provide any other related services to support families and children in need in accordance with this Act.
(c) The office of wellness and resilience may adopt policies and procedures necessary to implement the kakou pilot program and to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(d) The office of wellness and resilience shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations on the kakou pilot program, including any proposed legislation and recommendations on whether the program should continue, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.
(e) The kakou pilot program shall cease to exist on .
(f) For the purposes of this Act:
"Eligible families" means families receiving support from the temporary assistance for needy families program, and any other families meeting standards and requirements established by the office of wellness and resilience.
SECTION 3. Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is amended by amending section 1 as follows:
1. By amending subsection (b) to read:
"(b)
The pilot program shall pay $50 to each [state medicaid benefit] eligible
recipient for each completed well‑child
examination of that recipient parent's child; provided that only one
payment may be made per child each year."
2. By amending subsection (e) by adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read:
""Eligible recipient" means a parent receiving support from the temporary assistance for needy families program, and any other parent meeting standards and requirements established by the office of wellness and resilience."
SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval, and shall be repealed on .
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
OWR; Kakou Pilot Program; TANF; Child Wellness Visits; Food Boxes; Supportive Services; Wellness Benefit; Foster Family Placement; Med-QUEST
Description:
Establishes within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need. Expands eligibility for the $50 benefit established by Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Jul 7, 2026 | Act 200, on 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1302). |
| Jul 7, 2026 | Act 200, 07/07/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1302). |
| May 8, 2026 | Enrolled to Governor. |
| May 8, 2026 | Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888). |
| May 6, 2026 | Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816). |
| May 6, 2026 | Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Garcia voting no (2) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1). |
| May 6, 2026 | Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). |
| May 1, 2026 | Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26. |
| May 1, 2026 | Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 199-26) as amended in (CD 1). |
| May 1, 2026 | 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26. |
| May 1, 2026 | Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 199-26). |
| May 1, 2026 | The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Hartsfield, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| May 1, 2026 | The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Kanuha; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella. |
| May 1, 2026 | Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 883). |
| Apr 30, 2026 | Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 05-01-26 2:35PM in conference room 329. |
| Apr 30, 2026 | House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Hartsfield Co-Chairs; Alcos. |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 779). |
| Apr 27, 2026 | Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella. |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710). |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Senate disagrees with House amendments. |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 709). |
| Apr 14, 2026 | Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26. |
| Apr 10, 2026 | Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2094-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Apr 7, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 04-07-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Mar 30, 2026 | 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, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4). |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1507-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. |
| Mar 24, 2026 | The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 03-24-26 10:00AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 15 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Pass First Reading |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 28) in amended form (SD 2). |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. |
| Feb 25, 2026 | 48 Hrs. Notice 03-05-26. |
| Feb 25, 2026 | Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2717) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). |
| Feb 19, 2026 | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards. |
| Feb 13, 2026 | The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2194) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Feb 2, 2026 | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. |
| Jan 30, 2026 | The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-02-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Referred to HHS, WAM. |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Introduced. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2026 | Final Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
|
| May 6, 2026 | Final Reading | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Apr 14, 2026 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
|
| Apr 7, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Finance |
Passed |
|
| Mar 24, 2026 | The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Human Services & Homelessness |
Passed |
|
| Mar 5, 2026 | Third Reading | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Feb 19, 2026 | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Ways and Means |
Passed |
|
| Feb 2, 2026 | The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | 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.
|
Organization
|
Position
|
Date
|
|---|---|---|
| Aloha Independent Living Hawaii (AILH) | *** Support | Apr 7, 2026 |
| Aloha United Way | *** Support | Feb 19, 2026 |
| Department of Human Services | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Office of the Governor | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
| Office of Wellness and Resilience | *** Support | Apr 7, 2026 |
| Opportunity for Youth Action Hawaiʻi | *** Support | Mar 24, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2717
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2861
S.D. 2
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2861, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish the Kakou Pilot Program within the Office of Wellness and Resilience.
More specifically, the purpose of the measure is to support families and children in need by:
(1) Utilizing unspent and unencumbered federal assistance moneys; and
(2) Expanding eligibility for the $50 benefit provided pursuant to the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program established by Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.
Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Office of Wellness and Resilience, Aloha United Way, Opportunity for Youth Action Hawaii, and one individual.
Your Committee finds that the State has accumulated approximately $470,000,000 in unspent federal assistance moneys and has an estimated $333,000,000 in encumbrances on that federal funding. Your Committee further finds that the federal funding is from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and must be expended to assist needy families and families that are especially susceptible to charges of neglect for failure to provide shelter, supervision, and other necessities for their children. Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure will support families and children in need by utilizing the unspent federal moneys for the purposes of the newly established Kakou Pilot Program.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Adopting suggested amendments from:
(A) The Department of Human Services:
(i) Clarifying the eligibility for expending Temporary Assistance for Needy Families moneys; and
(ii) Removing the expansion of eligibility for the state Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program; and
(B) The Office of Wellness and Resilience, providing for a one-year planning period for development of the Kakou Pilot Program; and
(2) Adding a repeal date of June 30, 2027, excluding section 2, subsection (e), of the measure.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2861, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2861, S.D. 2.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,
|
|
|
________________________________ DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2194
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 2861
S.D. 1
Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi
President of the Senate
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 2861 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to:
(1) Establish within the Office of Wellness and Resilience the Kakou Pilot Program to support families and children in need; and
(2) Expand eligibility for the $50 benefit under the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program established by Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Aloha United Way and one individual.
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and Office of Wellness and Resilience.
Your Committee finds that approximately forty percent of households in the State are below the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) threshold. These families are working families who earn above the federal poverty level but still cannot afford basic necessities. This measure directs unspent Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funds toward child wellness visits, food assistance, counseling, and trauma-informed supports to help these vulnerable families.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language to authorize the Office of Wellness and Resilience to expend temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) funds for the purposes of the Kakou Pilot Program;
(2) Amending section 1 to reflect the measure's purpose of expanding eligibility for the $50 benefit provided under the Child Wellness Incentive Pilot Program established by Act 127, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, to include families ineligible for state Medicaid benefits; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.
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. 2861, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2861, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,
|
|
|
________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair |
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
Testimony PDF
|
|---|---|
| Apr 7, 2026 | SB2861_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_04-07-26_.PDF |
| Mar 24, 2026 | SB2861_SD2_TESTIMONY_HSH_03-24-26_.PDF |
| Feb 19, 2026 | SB2861_SD1_TESTIMONY_WAM_02-19-26_.PDF |
| Feb 2, 2026 | SB2861_TESTIMONY_HHS_02-02-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
2MIN
Senate Floor
1MIN
Conference Committee
1MIN
Conference Committee
5MIN
House Standing Committee on Human Services & Homelessness
19SEC
Senate Floor
3MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Ways and Means
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment
1MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services
Bill Author
