SB 529 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

SB 529 allocates state funds to the Department of Education for its Hoakea Program, which supports educational initiatives (specific program details not provided in the abstract). The bill directly affects the Department of Education as the recipient of these funds, with the appropriation becoming effective on July 1, 2050. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, and specifies no new requirements or eligibility criteria beyond the existing program structure. The bill passed committee recommendation with 5 ayes on February 3, 2025.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB529 → SB529_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended from an original House version to a Senate Draft 1 version, primarily changing the effective date of the funding appropriation from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050. Additionally, the specific dollar amount appropriated for the Hoakea education program was removed, leaving the sum blank, while minor text edits clarified the definition of 'ohana' and adjusted metadata.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the target program (Hoakea) remains unchanged, but the timeline for when the funds can be used has been drastically extended, and the specific funding amount is no longer defined in this draft.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050, delaying the start of the program by nearly 25 years.

FISCAL

The specific appropriation amount of $4,000,000 was deleted, leaving the budget line item blank in this version.

DEFINITION

The text was updated to explicitly define 'ohana' as '(family)' and removed a redundant reference to 'ohana of aina' in the legislative findings.

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 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 5) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 22; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 3 (Senator(s) Gabbard, Kouchi, Richards). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-12-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 94) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 3, 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

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-03-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

7 primary · 0 co-sponsors