HB 2445 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO STUDENT SAFETY.

Summary

Requires the Department of Education to develop, adopt, and implement a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity at or within one thousand feet of public schools and adopt policies and procedures to address immigration enforcement activity at certain school-related location and events. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 27, 2026 Last action Feb 19, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB2445 → HB2445_HD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision significantly expands the scope of immigration enforcement protections for students by defining a specific geographic buffer zone of one thousand feet around schools. It also adds new requirements for the Department of Education to adopt specific policies covering school buses and school-sponsored events, while simultaneously extending the bill's effective date to the year 3000.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from a general 'near school' definition to a precise 'within one thousand feet' radius, and it now explicitly includes school buses and school-sponsored activities as covered locations.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the geographic scope of the emergency response plan from 'at or near' schools to a specific distance of 'within one thousand feet' of school campuses.

Added a new requirement for the Department of Education to adopt specific policies and procedures addressing immigration enforcement activity.

Extended the scope of the emergency plan to explicitly include immigration enforcement activity occurring on school buses and at known school bus stops.

Extended the scope of the emergency plan to explicitly include immigration enforcement activity at school-sponsored activities and events.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2026

Committee

Reported from ECD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 149-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EDN.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on ECD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Ilagan, Hussey, Holt, Tam, Templo, Yamashita, Gedeon; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to ECD, EDN, JHA, referral sheet 6

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

12 primary · 0 co-sponsors