HB 901 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Summary

Clarifies the grounds for an appeal of non-renewal or revocation of a charter contract. Authorizes public charters schools to appeal directly to the Board of Education on matters regarding the schools' operations, governance, or funding, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB901_HD1 → HB901_HD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision clarifies the specific grounds for appealing a charter school contract non-renewal or revocation, explicitly including procedural errors and statutory violations. It also refines the rules for adverse decisions by removing the exception for performance reviews while maintaining the ability to appeal operational, governance, and funding issues. The changes aim to streamline the appeal process and provide clearer criteria for when a school can challenge an authorizer's decision.

Scope change

The scope of appealable matters was narrowed by removing the ability to appeal negative performance reviews, while the grounds for appealing non-renewal or revocation were expanded to explicitly list procedural errors and statutory violations.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that appeals for non-renewal or revocation are valid if the authorizer alleges procedural errors, statutory violations, or lack of compliance with contractual obligations.

Removed the ability to appeal negative performance reviews directly to the board, limiting appeals to matters affecting operation, governance, or funding.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the phrase 'shall have the power to' with 'may' regarding the board's authority to decide appeals.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill metadata, including the header designation from HD1 to HD2 and adjusted line counts and timestamps.

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 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, JDC.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 301).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Hashem, Kahaloa, Takayama, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Belatti; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Perruso; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, Todd.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 561) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDN, JHA, referral sheet 3

lower

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors