Hawaii Senate Bill SB2508

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/26
• Refer: 1/28/26

Caption

RELATING TO THE PSYCHOLOGY INTERJURISDICTIONAL COMPACT.

Summary

SB2508 would add a new chapter to the Hawaii Revised Statutes authorizing the governor to enter Hawaii into the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT). The compact is designed to let licensed psychologists in member states provide telepsychology services across state lines and, separately, to perform temporary in-person psychological services in another compact state for up to 30 days in a calendar year. It also sets out the compact’s purpose, definitions, eligibility standards, disciplinary rules, rulemaking process, and the structure of the interstate commission that would administer the agreement. Under the bill, Hawaii would recognize compact privileges for psychologists who meet specified education, licensure, background-check, and credentialing requirements, including an active e.passport for telepsychology and an interjurisdictional practice certificate for temporary in-person practice. The compact would require participating states to share licensure and disciplinary information through a coordinated database, and it would allow receiving or distant states to limit or revoke practice privileges under their own scope-of-practice and due-process laws. The bill also directs the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt implementing rules under chapter 91.

Impact

The bill would amend state law by creating a new Hawaii chapter for the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact and by delegating authority to the governor to join the compact on behalf of the state. If enacted and once the compact becomes effective through sufficient state participation, Hawaii’s psychology regulatory authority would be bound by compact rules, reporting obligations, information-sharing requirements, and interstate enforcement mechanisms. The bill would also require the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to adopt administrative rules to implement and administer the chapter. Its practical effect would be to expand cross-border practice options for qualified psychologists while imposing reciprocal oversight, reporting, and disciplinary coordination obligations on Hawaii regulators and compact-state licensees.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is being treated as a professional licensure and interstate mobility measure rather than a controversial policy change. The bill was referred to HHS/CPN and WAM/JDC, and there is no recorded committee transcript or vote history in the provided material indicating opposition or support. The measure’s stated goals—improving access to psychological services, especially through telehealth, while preserving public safety—are framed positively in the bill text itself.

Contention

The main policy tradeoff in the bill is between expanding access to psychological services across state lines and maintaining state control over licensure and discipline. Supporters would likely emphasize telepsychology access, temporary practice flexibility, and streamlined interstate cooperation; critics or cautious reviewers may focus on the compact commission’s rulemaking authority, the binding effect of compact rules, confidentiality provisions, and the extent to which Hawaii would cede some practical control over interstate practice standards. Another possible point of concern is enforcement: the compact gives member states and the commission significant authority to share disciplinary information, issue subpoenas, and revoke practice privileges, which may raise questions about administrative burden and oversight.