HCR 187 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO BEGIN INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS TEACHER RETENTION IN THE STATE.

This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to start initiatives aimed at reducing teacher turnover in the state. It directly affects the state's education system by calling for research into why teachers leave, particularly focusing on issues like low salaries, housing costs, and challenges in rural areas. The resolution requests the department to create an advisory board with educators, students, and community members to recommend retention strategies and encourages ongoing recognition efforts for teachers. This is a non-binding concurrent resolution that serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law with mandatory requirements.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action Apr 10, 2026

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What changed between versions

HCR187 → HCR187_HD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to shift its focus from urging the creation of a new advisory board to requesting an existing committee (Teacher Education Coordinating Committee) to submit a strategic plan update. The scope of the resolution was expanded to include the University of Hawaii leadership in the transmission of the document, and the timeline for the report was set for the 2027 legislative session.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from proposing the establishment of a new advisory board to requesting a report from an existing committee, and the distribution list was expanded to include university officials.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the requirement to establish a new advisory board with a request for the existing Teacher Education Coordinating Committee to submit a strategic plan update regarding teacher retention.

Extended the distribution of the resolution to include the President and Dean of the University of Hawaii.

TIMELINE

Set a specific deadline for the committee to submit its report: no later than twenty days before the start of the 2027 Regular Session.

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

Apr 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU.

upper

Apr 7, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 481).

upper

Apr 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Olds, Quinlan excused (3).

lower

Apr 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1806-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending adoption.

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett, Kila, Muraoka, Souza.

lower

Mar 18, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

11 primary · 0 co-sponsors