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Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 2165: RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 2165 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO MEDICAL DEBT. Primary sponsor: Tim Richards (Democratic), Stanley Chang (Democratic), Kurt Fevella (Republican), Rachele Lamosao (Democratic), Angus McKelvey (Democratic), Karl Rhoads (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (January 26, 2026): Referred to HHS/CPN, JDC.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from filing a civil lawsuit to collect medical debt from a patient whose household income is less than or equal to five hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from engaging in certain debt collection practices. Prohibits a health care provider or medical creditor from selling medical debt. Prohibits a health care provider whose income exceeds a certain threshold from denying non-emergency medically necessary care to patients.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 7 · Republican 1

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Tim RichardsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate4
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9
Kurt FevellaPrimary sponsorRepublicanSenate20
Rachele LamosaoPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate19
Angus McKelveyPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate6
Karl RhoadsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Les IharaCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate10
Lorraine InouyeCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Referred to HHS/CPN, JDC.
  2. Introduced and passed First Reading.
  3. Pending Introduction.

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source