SB 533 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Summary

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support public schools impacted by a local investor‑owned electric utility's planned public safety power shutoff program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB533_SD1 → SB533_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill fundamentally shifts responsibility for addressing power shutoffs from the state to the utility company. Originally, the state would have provided funding to schools to prepare for outages; now, the local investor-owned electric utility is legally required to provide and fund all necessary support for affected schools.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a state-funded assistance program to a mandate requiring the utility company to directly fund and implement support measures for schools.

FISCAL

Funding source changed from state general revenues to the local investor-owned electric utility.

REQUIREMENT

The obligation changed from the Department of Education using state funds to the utility company being required to provide and fund support.

ENFORCEMENT

The Act now imposes a direct legal requirement on the utility rather than appropriating funds for the state to act.

REPORTING

The report title and description were updated to reflect that the utility must provide support instead of the state appropriating funds.

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 14, 2025

Committee

Re-referred to EEP, EDN/CPC, FIN, referral sheet 23

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1204) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to EDN.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Kahaloa, Kusch, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to EEP, EDN, CPC, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 27) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. 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. 98) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

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) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha.

upper

Jan 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 01-31-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 2 co-sponsors