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SB 2409

RELATING TO THE HEALTHCARE EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stanley Chang and 7 co-sponsors

Hawaii bill to repay healthcare education loans for professionals serving underserved communities, addressing physician and provider shortages in rural areas.

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
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Bill Summary · SB 2409

Legislative bill overview

SB 2409 establishes or modifies Hawaii's healthcare education loan repayment program, which provides financial assistance to healthcare professionals in exchange for service commitments in underserved areas. The bill is currently in its early stages, having passed first reading and been referred to the Health and Human Services (HHS) and Ways and Means (WAM) committees for evaluation.

Why is this important

Healthcare workforce shortages in rural and underserved communities directly impact patient access to medical care. Loan repayment programs are a proven policy tool used by states and the federal government to incentivize healthcare professionals to work in areas with critical shortages, improving health equity and reducing geographic disparities in care.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost and funding: WAM referral indicates budget concerns; determining sustainable funding mechanisms (general revenues, bonds, federal matching funds) will be contentious
  • Program scope and eligibility: Disagreement likely over which healthcare professions qualify (physicians only vs. nurses, dentists, mental health providers, etc.) and what constitutes "underserved"
  • Service commitment terms: Debate expected over required service length, geographic restrictions, and consequences for non-compliance or early departure
  • Workforce retention effectiveness: Questions may arise about whether loan repayment is the most efficient use of state funds compared to salary increases, housing assistance, or other recruitment strategies

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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