Bill > HB615

This bill expands legal protections for gender-affirming health care services in Hawaii, specifically focusing on protecting individuals who seek, provide, or assist with such services from potential legal actions in other states. The bill defines gender-affirming health care services as medically necessary care that respects a patient's gender identity, which can include medical interventions to suppress secondary sex characteristics, align physical appearance with gender identity, or address gender dysphoria. Key provisions include preventing state agencies from sharing non-public information about gender-affirming care, prohibiting the enforcement of out-of-state legal actions against individuals involved with these services, and modifying child custody jurisdiction rules to protect parents and children seeking gender-affirming care. The bill also amends various professional licensing statutes to ensure that disciplinary actions based solely on providing gender-affirming care cannot be used to revoke or suspend professional licenses in Hawaii. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that the presence of a child in Hawaii for the purpose of obtaining gender-affirming health care services can be sufficient to establish legal jurisdiction, and prevents courts from considering the seeking of such care as a negative factor in custody determinations.

Health and Social Services

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=615&year=2026