SB 421 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO LITERACY.

Summary

Requires the Department of Education to administer a general dyslexia screening to all students in kindergarten through grade three. Requires the Department of Education to continue to administer the general English language arts universal screening for students in kindergarten through grade nine. Requires the Department of Education to collaborate with teacher training programs to ensure prospective candidates are trained on literacy instruction, including evidence-based intervention, to support all students. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB421 → SB421_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates the legislative metadata to reflect a Senate Draft version and clarifies that the State of Hawaii is the only one without specific dyslexia laws. It strengthens the legal definition of 'structured literacy instruction' to require explicit, step-by-step teaching with immediate feedback. The bill also adds a new requirement for the Department of Education to provide professional learning opportunities for schools and appropriates funds for dyslexia-sensitive screening.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on literacy and dyslexia support, but the applicability of the definition of 'structured literacy instruction' is tightened to ensure more rigorous teaching methods are used.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'structured literacy instruction' was modified to explicitly require detailed, step-by-step instruction and immediate, specific feedback from teachers.

REQUIREMENT

A new requirement was added mandating that the Department of Education provide professional learning opportunities for complex areas and public schools regarding structured literacy instruction.

FISCAL

New funding was appropriated from general state revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to cover the administration of dyslexia-sensitive universal screening.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from immediate approval to July 1, 2050.

TECHNICAL

Metadata regarding the bill version, revision numbers, and template types were updated to reflect the Senate Draft status.

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

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 344) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 3:08PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 16, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

12 primary · 2 co-sponsors