SB 787: DOH; Warm Line; Mental Health; Appropriation
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-02-10
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-02-11: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
Sets aside state money for the Department of Health to create and run a free, statewide mental health “warm line” for people needing non-emergency emotional support. The warm line would be a confidential phone service—usually staffed by peers or volunteers—to talk with callers who are distressed but not in immediate danger, and is separate from emergency crisis hotlines.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line to provide mental health support in non-emergency situations. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)
Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line to provide mental health support in non-emergency situations.
|
THE SENATE |
S.B. NO. |
787 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
S.D. 1 |
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
A mental health warm line differs from a mental health crisis line or hotline. A crisis line or hotline generally provides services to individuals who require immediate assistance from a licensed professional, safety planning, or a referral to a secondary agency or care provider. A mental health warm line is intended for callers who need someone to talk to but who are not actively in crisis and do not need to go to the emergency room or call 911. A warm line is typically staffed by volunteers or paid peers who have personal experience with mental health disorders.
The legislature also finds that the department of health established a warm line that is separate from the Hawaiʻi CARES 988 crisis line to assist the Maui community following the 2023 Maui wildfires, and that there exists a gap in the available mental health system in the State that necessitates the establishment of a statewide warm line.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the equipment, training, and operational expenses necessary to establish and operate a mental health warm line that is available statewide at no cost to users.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2050.
Report Title:
DOH; Warm Line; Mental Health; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line to provide mental health support in non-emergency situations. Effective 12/31/2050. (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. |
787 |
|
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 |
|
|
|
STATE OF HAWAII |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO the department of health.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
A mental health warm line differs from a mental health crisis line or hotline. A crisis line or hotline generally provides services to individuals who require immediate assistance from a licensed professional, safety planning, or a referral to a secondary agency or care provider. A mental health warm line is intended for callers who need someone to talk to but who are not actively in crisis and do not need to go to the emergency room or call 911. A warm line is typically staffed by volunteers or paid peers who have personal experience with mental health disorders.
The legislature also finds that the department of health established a warm line that is separate from the Hawaiʻi CARES 988 crisis line to assist the Maui community following the 2023 Maui wildfires, and that there exists a gap in the available mental health system in the State that necessitates the establishment of a statewide warm line.
Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the department of health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line.
SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the equipment, training, and operational expenses necessary to establish and operate a mental health warm line that is available statewide at no cost to users.
The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
|
INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
|
|
|
Report Title:
DOH; Warm Line; Mental Health; Appropriations
Description:
Appropriates funds to the Department of Health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line to provide mental health support in non-emergency situations.
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
|
|---|---|
| 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. 2165) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Jan 28, 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 23, 2026 | The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-28-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. |
| Dec 8, 2025 | Carried over to 2026 Regular Session. |
| Jan 23, 2025 | Referred to HHS, WAM. |
| Jan 21, 2025 | Passed First Reading. |
| Jan 17, 2025 | Introduced. |
|
Date
|
Description
|
Location
|
Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 28, 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi | ** Support | |
| Department of Health | ** Support | |
| Hawaii Disability Rights Center | ** Support | |
| Libertarian Party of Hawaii | ** Against | |
| United Self‑Help | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2165
Honolulu, Hawaii
RE: S.B. No. 787
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. 787 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Health to establish and operate a free statewide mental health warm line to provide mental health support in non-emergency situations.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, United Self‑Help, and three individuals.
Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Libertarian Party of Hawaii and one individual.
Your Committee finds that a "warm line" is a confidential, free phone service offering mental health support to individuals who are experiencing psychological distress but are not actively in danger of harming themselves or others. Your Committee further finds that there is a need for a statewide "warm line" to provide nonclinical mental health support over the telephone for non‑emergency situations. This measure strengthens the State's mental health support system by offering early intervention before distress escalates and reduces unnecessary use of emergency and crisis services.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Changing the appropriation from $250,000 to an unspecified amount to encourage further discussion;
(2) Updating the fiscal year to reflect the current legislative session; and
(3) Inserting an effective date of December 31, 2050, to encourage further discussion.
Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $570,137 for the equipment, training, and operational expenses necessary to establish and operate a mental health warm line that is available statewide at no cost to users.
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. 787, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 787, 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
|
|---|---|
| Jan 28, 2026 | SB787_TESTIMONY_HHS_01-28-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
12MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Health and Human Services
Bill Author
Bill Co-Author(s):