Hawaii House Bill HR1

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/19/24
• Refer: 3/8/24
• Report Pass: 3/27/24
• Report Pass: 4/4/24
• Refer: 3/27/24
• Passed: 4/4/24

Caption

Urging Retail Stores And Pharmacies Doing Business In The State To Adopt A Policy On A National And Local Level Guaranteeing An Individual's Unhindered Access To All United States Food And Drug Administration-approved Contraceptives.

Impact

The bill seeks to address barriers to contraceptive access, which are cited as contributing factors to unintended pregnancies. These barriers can include the affordability of contraceptives, availability based on location, and pharmacy practices—specifically instances where pharmacists refuse to dispense contraceptives or when contraceptives are made difficult to access in stores. HR1 aims to promote a significant shift in policy for retail establishments to prioritize availability and accessibility of these essential health resources.

Summary

House Resolution 1 (HR1) introduces a resolution urging retail stores and pharmacies in Hawaii to adopt comprehensive policies ensuring unrestricted access to FDA-approved contraceptives. The resolution emphasizes the health benefits of contraception, such as improved maternal health and economic self-sufficiency for women. It highlights significant statistics, noting that a majority of women in the U.S. use some form of contraception and that unintended pregnancies remain a critical issue, particularly among specific demographic groups in Hawaii including Native Hawaiian and low-income women.

Contention

While the resolution is primarily an encouragement rather than a mandate, it may still provoke discussions regarding the role of pharmacies in public health policy. Existing concerns about pharmacists' autonomy in prescribing medications and the operational practices of pharmacies are likely to surface. There may also be discussions surrounding public adherence to such policies on a national level, prompting debates about the balance between corporate policy and individual rights in healthcare access.