Informing the Legislature that on July 1, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB3116 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 153).

This bill establishes a specific priority application period for Hawaii's Preschool Open Doors Program, running from February 1 until the start of each state fiscal year. During this window, the program will prioritize enrollment for children who are not yet eligible for kindergarten, followed by underserved or at-risk children, and then other three- and four-year-olds. Applications submitted after this priority period will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis for the rest of the fiscal year. The law amends existing statutes to clarify these selection rules and requires the state department to define "underserved or at-risk" status through established administrative rules.