SB 747 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Summary

Establishes an Audit Office within the Board of Education to audit operations and expenditures of the Department of Education. Exempts positions within the Audit Office from civil service law. Requires annual reports to the Governor and Director of Finance. Authorizes the Legislature to request a copy of the annual reports. Establishes positions within the Audit Office. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB747_HD2 → SB747_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes a new Audit Office within the Hawaii Department of Education to independently oversee financial and operational efficiency. It exempts the new office's staff from standard civil service rules and requires annual reports to be sent to the Governor and Director of Finance. The legislation also appropriates funding for six new full-time positions within this office.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of the Department of Education by creating a new internal audit entity with specific reporting requirements and exemptions from state civil service laws.

SCOPE

Created a new Audit Office within the Board of Education to ensure accountability and transparency in department operations.

REQUIREMENT

Mandated that the Audit Office submit annual reports to the Governor and Director of Finance, with copies available to the legislature upon request.

ELIGIBILITY

Exempted Audit Office staff from standard civil service laws (Chapter 76) to allow flexible hiring and management.

FISCAL

Appropriated funds for the establishment and operation of the new Audit Office, including six full-time equivalent positions.

TIMELINE

Set the effective date of the Act to July 1, 2050.

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

Amendments

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 655).

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Iwamoto voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Marten excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Alcos.

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Amato voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).

lower

Mar 20, 2025

Committee

Reported from LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1386), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kapela, Kong, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1191) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Muraoka.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDN, LAB, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 192) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 26, 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 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:03AM; 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. 99) 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 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 1 co-sponsor