At the first Kōkua Mau meeting of 2026 we got an update on the reintroduction of the Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act (HB 2257).
We welcomed Jennifer Moore Ballentine who has been studying this law for several years and is a national expert on the topic. She gave an overview of the bill and areas of concern to help guide our local discussions.
- Watch the recording on our YouTube channel
- Here is a direct link to the legislation
Jennifer Moore Ballentine is CEO of the Coalition for Compassionate Care of California (CCCC). She is an educator, consultant, and advocate with more than 25 years’ experience and expertise in palliative care and hospice, adult education, healthcare ethics and policy. She is the former Executive Director of the California State University Shiley Haynes Institute for Palliative Care and previously held leadership roles for Life Quality Institute, The Denver Hospice, and the Colorado Center for Hospice and Palliative Care. She currently serves, with Jeannette, on the national POLST Board of Directors. CCCC is a sister organization to Kōkua Mau and we have partnered with them for years.
On December 30, 2025 we learned that the bill will be re-introduced, again with no chance for education or input. It does not appear that the bill is substantively different from last year so our questions remain. And new questions will arise.
Kōkua Mau members who are interested can submit testimony about the bill. Hearings will begin soon so now is the time to ask questions and compose your testimony.
Bills numbers: HB 2257 and SB 3077
If you are thinking you have heard this before, you are right. Last year, we had a similar issue that this important and complex topic was introduced without education on the bill and no opportunity to provide feedback. Here is a summary of the issues we had last year. https://kokuamau.org/for-members/legislative-agenda-in-hawaii/