Bill > SB764

This bill establishes a one-year Physician Licensing Subsidy Pilot Program within Hawaii's Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs to address the state's physician shortage by reducing licensing fees for new and out-of-state physicians. The program will subsidize licensing fees for medical school graduates and out-of-state physicians applying for their first medical license in Hawaii, cutting the total licensing fees by up to 50%. Eligible applicants include those who have passed medical qualification requirements and physicians moving to Hawaii from other states. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will collaborate with the Department of Health, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, and other stakeholders to promote the program. The department is required to adopt rules and submit a comprehensive report to the Legislature before the 2026 legislative session, detailing the number of applicants who applied for, received, and ultimately obtained a medical license through the program. The pilot program will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with funding appropriated from the state's general revenues. The bill aims to lower economic barriers that discourage physicians from practicing in Hawaii, particularly for new physicians with significant student loan debt.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=764&year=2026