Hawaii Senate Bill SB2969

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/26
• Refer: 1/30/26
• Report Pass: 2/18/26
• Refer: 2/18/26
• Report Pass: 3/5/26
• Engrossed: 3/6/26
• Refer: 3/10/26
• Report Pass: 3/20/26
• Refer: 3/20/26
• Report Pass: 4/10/26

Caption

RELATING TO THE MAUI WILDFIRE EXPOSURE STUDY AND MAUI HEALTH REGISTRY.

Summary

SB2969 appropriates an unspecified amount of general funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the University of Hawaii, working with community partners, to expand and sustain the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study and the Maui Health Registry. The bill is focused on continuing medical and mental health screenings, biomonitoring, referrals to care, and follow-up services for people affected by the 2023 Maui wildfires. The measure specifically highlights services for children, first responders, kupuna, and medically vulnerable residents, and it contemplates expanding support to as many as 3,000 individuals. The findings in the bill describe the wildfire response effort as a long-term public health and community resilience initiative, with attention to underserved populations including Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Filipino, Hispanic, Asian, and immigrant communities.

Impact

If enacted, SB2969 would create a new state general-fund appropriation for the University of Hawaii to continue and expand the Maui wildfire exposure study and Maui health registry. It would not directly amend regulatory statutes, but it would authorize state spending for public health monitoring, care coordination, and outreach related to wildfire exposure and recovery. The bill would support ongoing services and long-term follow-up for affected residents, with the university designated as the spending entity for the appropriation.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill. It passed the Senate Education Committee 4-0 with amendments, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee 5-0 with amendments, and the Senate Ways and Means Committee 12-0 without amendment. The bill text and context frame the measure as a necessary public health response to the Maui wildfires, and there is no recorded opposition in the provided materials.

Contention

The main issue reflected in the bill is not whether to provide services, but how much funding should be appropriated and how the program should be structured for long-term follow-up and expansion. The bill emphasizes prioritizing children, first responders, kupuna, and medically vulnerable residents, which suggests policy attention to high-risk groups and equitable outreach. No specific objections appear in the provided transcripts, but the repeated amendments in earlier committees indicate some legislative refinement before the measure reached Ways and Means.