SR 49: establishing the Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable Hawaii Health Plan available to every resident of the State.

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	49
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

establishing the Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable Hawaii Health Plan available to every resident of the State.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the federal Premium Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit that helps reduce the amount that eligible individuals and families pay each month for coverage under a qualified health plan purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2021, Congress enhanced the Premium Tax Credit, making health insurance more affordable for approximately 22,000,000 to 24,000,000 people in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, at the end of 2025, the enhanced portion of the Premium Tax Credit expired and was not extended by Congress, and this risks making health insurance unaffordable for millions of individuals across the country; and

 

     WHEREAS, Public Law 119-25, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also authorized and expanded Medicaid work requirements; and

 

     WHEREAS, these changes by the federal government are expected to leave an estimated six to seven percent of the State's population without health insurance coverage; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the late 1980s, Hawaii faced a similar problem in which an estimated five percent of the State's population lacked health insurance.  In response, the Legislature enacted Act 378, Session Laws of Hawaii 1989, known as the State Health Insurance Program Act, to help subsidize insurance coverage for qualifying uninsured residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State Health Insurance Program Act was generally successful in providing affordable health insurance to residents who would otherwise lack health insurance coverage; and

 

     WHEREAS, a similar program, if enacted today, may help to provide health insurance coverage for the tens of thousands of Hawaii residents who are expected to become uninsured under the new federal standards; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Senate and the House of Representatives hereby jointly establish the Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable Hawaii Health Plan available to every resident of the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall comprise the following:

 

     (1)  The Chairs of the Standing Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives having primary jurisdiction over health, or the chairs' designees, who shall serve as co‑chairs of the working group;

 

     (2)  A representative from the Office of the Governor, to be appointed by the Governor;

 

     (3)  The Insurance Commissioner, or the Commissioner's designee;

 

     (4)  The Director of Labor and Industrial Relations, or the Director's designee;

 

     (5)  The Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

 

     (6)  The Administrator of the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services;

 

     (7)  The President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, or the President and Chief Operating Officer's designee, who shall be invited by the co-chairs of the working group;

 

     (8)  The Market President, Hawaii Region, for Kaiser Permanente, or the Market President's designee, who shall be invited by the co-chairs of the working group;

 

     (9)  One representative from the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, who shall be invited by the co-chairs of the working group; and

 

    (10)  One representative from the Hawaii Primary Care Association, who shall be invited by the co-chairs of the working group; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consider and follow the provisions of House Bill No. 1789, Regular Session of 2026, and Senate Bill No. 3243, Regular Session of 2026, regarding the values, principles, scope of design of the Hawaii Health Plan, and general nature of the system to be developed; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to assist in preparing any legislation proposed by the working group; provided that the working group shall provide a draft of any legislation to the Bureau no later than October 15, 2026; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations for the design of the Hawaii Health Plan, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group cease to exist on June 30, 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chairs of the Standing Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives having primary jurisdiction over health; Insurance Commissioner; Director of Labor and Industrial Relations; Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency; Administrator of the Med-QUEST Division of the Department of Human Services; President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hawaii Medical Service Association; Market President, Hawaii Region, for Kaiser Permanente; President and Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Association of Hawaii; and Chief Executive Officer of the Hawaii Primary Care Association.

 

 

Report Title: 

Health Insurance; Affordable Care Act; Hawaii Health Plan Working Group

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	49
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

establishing the Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable Hawaii Health Plan available to every resident of the State.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the federal Premium Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit that helps lower the amount that eligible individuals and families pay each month for coverage under a qualified health plan purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2021, Congress enhanced the Premium Tax Credit, making health insurance more affordable for approximately 22,000,000 to 24,000,000 people in the United States; and

 

     WHEREAS, at the end of 2025, the enhanced portion of the Premium Tax Credit expired and was not extended by Congress, and this risks making health insurance unaffordable for millions of individuals across the country; and

 

     WHEREAS, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act also increased Medicaid work requirements; and

 

     WHEREAS, these changes by the federal government are expected to leave an estimated six to seven percent of Hawaii's population without health insurance coverage; and

 

     WHEREAS, in the late 1980s, Hawaii faced a similar problem in which an estimated five percent of the State's population lacked health insurance.  In response, the Legislature enacted Act 378, Session Laws of Hawaii 1989, known as the State Health Insurance Program Act, to help subsidize insurance coverage for qualifying uninsured residents; and

 

     WHEREAS, the State Health Insurance Program Act was generally successful in providing affordable health insurance to residents who would otherwise lack health insurance coverage; and

 

     WHEREAS, a similar program, if enacted today, may help to provide health insurance coverage for the tens of thousands of Hawaii residents who are expected to become uninsured under the new federal standards; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Senate hereby establishes the Hawaii Health Plan Working Group to design and recommend a basic, affordable Hawaii Health Plan available to every resident of the State; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group shall comprise the following:

 

     (1)  The Chair of the Standing Committee of the Senate having primary jurisdiction over health, or the chair's designee, who shall serve as the chair of the working group;

 

     (2)  A representative from the Office of the Governor, to be appointed by the Governor;

 

     (3)  The Insurance Commissioner, or the Commissioner's designee;

 

     (4)  The Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency, or the Administrator's designee;

 

     (5)  The President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hawaii Medical Service Association, or the President and Chief Operating Officer's designee, who shall be invited to be a member; and

 

     (6)  The Market President, Hawaii Region, for Kaiser Permanente, or the Market President's designee, who shall be invited to be a member; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to consider and follow the provisions of House Bill No. 1789, Regular Session of 2026, and Senate Bill No. 3243, Regular Session of 2026, regarding the values, principles, scope of design of the Hawaii Health Plan, and general nature of the system to be developed; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to assist in preparing any legislation proposed by the working group; provided that the working group shall provide a draft of any legislation to the Bureau no later than October 15, 2026; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations for the design of the Hawaii Health Plan, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the working group cease to exist on June 30, 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Governor; Chairs of the Standing Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives having primary jurisdiction over health; Insurance Commissioner; Administrator of the State Health Planning and Development Agency; President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hawaii Medical Service Association; and Market President, Hawaii Region, for Kaiser Permanente.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Health Insurance; Affordable Care Act; Hawaii Health Plan Working Group