HR 94 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE, TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH LONELINESS AND SOCIAL DISCONNECTION IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS.

This House Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address loneliness and social disconnection. The proposed program would involve collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience to train students in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices. Student peer counselors would serve as trained points of connection within schools, promoting belonging and helping identify students experiencing isolation while referring them to licensed mental health professionals when needed. The resolution recommends implementing the program in phases starting with pilot programs in select schools and includes the Hawaii State Youth Commission in program development and evaluation.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

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 9, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HR94 → HR94_HD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was renumbered from HR94 to HR94 HD1 and updated with new metadata, including a change in the originating clerk and revised dates. The text was reformatted to use all-caps for the title and 'WHEREAS' clauses, and minor punctuation adjustments were made to the introductory language. The core policy content regarding the peer counselor program remains substantively unchanged.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the text describes the same program and targets the same agencies.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was changed from 'HR94' to 'HR94 HD1', and metadata fields such as the sponsoring clerk and dates were updated.

The bill text was reformatted to use all capital letters for the title and 'WHEREAS' clauses, and minor punctuation edits were applied to the introductory sentences.

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 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1).

lower

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1839-26), recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on HSH as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).

lower

Apr 2, 2026

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1770-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to HSH.

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, HSH, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered

lower

15 primary · 0 co-sponsors