SB 3179 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS.

Summary

Requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to take certain steps regarding incidents of harassment and implement procedures for handling harassment of educational workers. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB3179 → SB3179_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill update clarifies that harassment protections apply specifically to incidents involving individuals not employed by the Department of Education or public charter schools, rather than any harassment in general. It also refines the reimbursement rules for legal costs related to temporary restraining orders, explicitly excluding attorneys' fees and court costs. These changes ensure the bill targets external threats to staff while maintaining fiscal clarity on state funding.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed to specifically address harassment by persons not employed by the Department of Education or public charter schools, rather than covering all forms of harassment.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that harassment protections and reporting procedures apply specifically to incidents involving persons not employed by the Department of Education or public charter schools.

REQUIREMENT

Updated reimbursement rules for legal actions to explicitly exclude attorneys' fees and court costs from covered expenses.

TECHNICAL

Adjusted formatting and metadata to reflect the new Senate District 1 version of the bill.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 20, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to EDN, JHA, referral sheet 20

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDN, LAB, JHA, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 376) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Committee

Waived referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Reported from EDU/LBT (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2221) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to JDC/WAM.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in LBT were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Elefante, Lamosao, Moriwaki; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Ihara, Fevella.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU/LBT has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU/LBT, JDC/WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

7 primary · 1 co-sponsor