HB 1559 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Summary

Prohibits a student from using a telecommunication device on school grounds during the instructional day, with certain exceptions. Requires a confiscated telecommunication device to be released only to the student's parent or legal guardian, who has three months to retrieve the device before it is subject to forfeiture. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 15, 2026 Last action Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB1559_HD1 → HB1559_HD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from H.D. 1 to H.D. 2 and updated with new dates, reflecting its progression through the legislative process. Substantively, the rule against using telecommunication devices on school grounds was expanded to include all students enrolled in public schools, not just those currently attending. The consequences for violations were clarified to apply only after a second offense within the same school year, and the list of authorized personnel who may confiscate devices was expanded to explicitly include school administrators.

Scope change

The bill's scope was broadened to apply to all students enrolled in public schools, rather than limiting it to students currently attending school.

ELIGIBILITY

The prohibition on using telecommunication devices now applies to any student enrolled in a public school, removing the implicit limitation to currently attending students.

ENFORCEMENT

Disciplinary consequences for device misuse now only apply if a student violates the rule more than once within the same school year, rather than for any single violation.

REQUIREMENT

The list of authorized personnel who may confiscate devices was updated to explicitly include school administrators alongside teachers.

Requirements for storing confiscated devices were strengthened to mandate specific security measures, such as being inaccessible to students and protected from theft or damage.

TIMELINE

The effective date for device forfeiture was clarified to occur after three months from the date of confiscation.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 17, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU, JDC.

upper

Mar 12, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 244).

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Souza voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Cochran, Iwamoto, Shimizu voting no (3) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Cochran, Shimizu; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti, Hashem, Sayama.

lower

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 695-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDN, JHA, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

13 primary · 0 co-sponsors