SR 185 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

This Senate Resolution asks the State Auditor to review the Department of Education's list of unfinished school construction and renovation projects. The audit will examine how much money has been spent on each project, why some are delayed or over budget, and how much additional funding is needed to finish them. The goal is to provide a clear picture of the state's school infrastructure needs and suggest ways to manage future projects more effectively. The Auditor must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 16, 2026 Last action May 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SR185 → SR185_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated to shift the focus from a financial audit of a 'project backlog' to a performance audit of the 'capital improvement program.' The scope was significantly narrowed by removing specific requests for inventory lists, funding totals, and cost comparisons, while adding a request to review internal policies and an audit of lapsed funds. The bill also changed the recipient of the resolution from the 'Auditor' to the 'Office of the Auditor' and updated the distribution list to include the State Auditor instead of the Auditor.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a broad financial and inventory review of completed projects to a performance-based review of program policies and the status of lapsed funds.

REQUIREMENT

The audit request was changed from a financial audit of the 'project backlog' to a performance audit of the 'capital improvement program'.

Specific requests for an inventory of projects, total funding amounts, cost comparisons, and identified delays were removed.

New requests were added to review internal policies/procedures for prioritization and risk reduction, and to audit funds that lapsed in the previous year.

DEFINITION

A definition was added clarifying that 'capital improvement project' refers to any project for which the Legislature appropriated funds.

TECHNICAL

The title and text were updated to refer to the 'Office of the Auditor' instead of just the 'Auditor', and the distribution list was updated to include the 'State Auditor'.

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

Apr 14, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report and Resolution Adopted, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3697) with recommendation of adoption, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Apr 8, 2026

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

upper

Apr 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 04-08-26 1:03PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to EDU.

upper

Mar 19, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

Offered.

upper

8 primary · 2 co-sponsors