---
type: "Bill"
title: "RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION."
description: "Authorizes certain types of radiographical coverage and specialist consultations without a treatment plan within the context of workers' compensation coverage for employees with cervical and lumbar spinal injuries, or suspected cervical and lumbar spinal injuries. (CD1)"
jurisdiction: "us/states/hi"
legislature: "Hawaii Legislature"
session: "2024"
identifier: "HB 1944"
citation: "Hawaii HB 1944 (2024)"
classification: ["bill"]
subjects: ["Cervical and Lumbar Spinal Injuries", "Coverage", "MRI", "Specialists", "Workers' Compensation"]
status: "enacted"
primary_sponsors: ["AMATO", "ICHIYAMA", "KAPELA", "KITAGAWA", "LOWEN", "MARTEN", "MATAYOSHI", "NISHIMOTO", "PERRUSO", "POEPOE", "TAKENOUCHI", "TAM", "TARNAS", "TODD", "WOODSON"]
version_count: 5
action_count: 49
vote_count: 6
first_action: "2024-01-19"
last_action: "2024-06-28"
source: "openstates"
source_identifier: "ocd-bill/a2556a8e-0fce-49d9-8c6d-f80d234f7a79"
source_url: "https://capitol.hawaii.gov/session/archives/measure_indiv_Archives.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1944&year=2024"
source_hash: "89f12701ac1ad6dca9d8a2fd0c1d3297aca89720ffaf340a768e78631e8f6808"
vintage: "2026-07-01"
source_snapshot: "https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-06"
confidence: "reported"
tags: ["legislation", "bill", "us-hi"]
---

# Hawaii HB 1944 (2024) — RELATING TO WORKERS' COMPENSATION.

Authorizes certain types of radiographical coverage and specialist consultations without a treatment plan within the context of workers' compensation coverage for employees with cervical and lumbar spinal injuries, or suspected cervical and lumbar spinal injuries. (CD1)

## Version chain

The bill's text revisions, in order — the diff chain from filing to enrollment.

1. **HB1944** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB1944_.HTM)
2. **HB1944_CD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB1944_CD1_.HTM)
3. **HB1944_HD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB1944_HD1_.HTM)
4. **HB1944_HD2** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB1944_HD2_.HTM)
5. **HB1944_SD1** (committee substitute) — [source](https://capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2024/bills/HB1944_SD1_.HTM)

## Votes

- Reconsider: The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **8–0** (pass) · lower
- The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **5–0** (pass) · upper
- The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. — **5–0** (pass) · lower
- The committee on LGO recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **5–0** (pass) · lower
- The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. — **3–0** (pass) · upper
- The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. — **4–0** (pass) · upper

## Sponsors

- AMATO — primary (person)
- ICHIYAMA — primary (person)
- KAPELA — primary (person)
- KITAGAWA — primary (person)
- LOWEN — primary (person)
- MARTEN — primary (person)
- MATAYOSHI — primary (person)
- NISHIMOTO — primary (person)
- PERRUSO — primary (person)
- POEPOE — primary (person)
- TAKENOUCHI — primary (person)
- TAM — primary (person)
- TARNAS — primary (person)
- TODD — primary (person)
- WOODSON — primary (person)
- Kobayashi — cosponsor (person)

## Timeline

The legislative action history — every referral, reading, and vote.

- **2024-06-28** Act 094, 06/27/2024 (Gov. Msg. No. 1195). `became-law`
- **2024-06-28** Act 094, on 06/27/2024 (Gov. Msg. No. 1195). `became-law`
- **2024-05-02** Transmitted to Governor.
- **2024-05-03** Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 830). `receipt`
- **2024-05-01** Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 798). `receipt`
- **2024-05-01** Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Ganaden, Martinez, Nakashima excused (3). `passage`
- **2024-05-01** Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none. `passage`
- **2024-04-25** 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-01-24.
- **2024-04-25** Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 6-24).
- **2024-04-25** Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-01-24.
- **2024-04-25** Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 6-24) as amended in (CD 1).
- **2024-04-22** The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Tam, Kitagawa, Garrett, Alcos; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
- **2024-04-22** The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-04-19** Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Monday, 04-22-24 10:05AM in conference room 016.
- **2024-04-18** Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 760). `receipt`
- **2024-04-17** House Conferees Appointed: Matayoshi, Tam, Kitagawa Co-Chairs; Garrett, Alcos.
- **2024-04-17** Re-referred to LGO, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 32 `referral-committee`
- **2024-04-15** Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 677). `receipt`
- **2024-04-15** Senate Conferees Appointed: Aquino Chair; Keohokalole Co-Chair; Fevella.
- **2024-04-12** Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 731). `receipt`
- **2024-04-11** House disagrees with Senate amendment (s). `amendment-failure`
- **2024-04-09** Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 543) in amended form (SD 1).
- **2024-04-09** Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. `passage`
- **2024-04-05** One Day Notice 04-09-24.
- **2024-04-05** Reported from CPN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3672) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- **2024-03-27** The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in CPN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Richards. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-03-22** The committee(s) on CPN will hold a public decision making on 03-27-24 9:30AM; CR 229 & Videoconference.
- **2024-03-20** Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to CPN. `reading-2, referral-committee`
- **2024-03-20** Reported from LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3133) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to CPN.
- **2024-03-13** The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Aquino, Moriwaki, Ihara, Lee, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-03-08** The committee(s) on LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-24 3:00PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.
- **2024-03-07** Referred to LBT, CPN. `referral-committee`
- **2024-03-01** Passed First Reading. `reading-1`
- **2024-03-01** Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 27). `introduction, receipt`
- **2024-02-29** Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Holt excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. `passage`
- **2024-02-29** Reconsideration of action taken on 02-16-24.
- **2024-02-29** Re-referred to LGO, CPC, referral sheet 15 `referral-committee`
- **2024-02-16** Report adopted. referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Aiu, Garrett, Perruso, Takayama, Todd excused (5).
- **2024-02-16** Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 542-24) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
- **2024-02-13** The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Nakashima, Sayama, Amato, Belatti, Hashem, Hussey-Burdick, Onishi, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Gates, Lowen, Pierick. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-02-09** Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Tuesday, 02-13-24 2:05PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- **2024-02-05** Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Gates, Kapela, Nakashima excused (4). `reading-2, referral-committee`
- **2024-02-05** Reported from LGO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 53-24) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
- **2024-02-01** The committee on LGO recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Garrett, Kapela, Martinez, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama, Alcos. `committee-passage-favorable`
- **2024-01-29** Bill scheduled to be heard by LGO on Thursday, 02-01-24 9:00AM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- **2024-01-29** Re-referred to LGO, CPC, FIN, referral sheet 5 `referral-committee`
- **2024-01-24** Referred to LGO, CPC, referral sheet 1 `referral-committee`
- **2024-01-22** Introduced and Pass First Reading. `introduction, reading-1`
- **2024-01-19** Pending introduction.

## Source

OpenStates / OpenCivicData bulk snapshot [2026-07-01](https://data.openstates.org/daily/2026-07-01/public.pgdump); origin `ocd-bill/a2556a8e-0fce-49d9-8c6d-f80d234f7a79`. Confidence: reported (aggregated from official Hawaii legislature records).