Hawaii Bills | MyRepTracker

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 96: REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE HAWAII ELECTRIC RELIABILITY ADMINISTRATOR.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to provide a written update on how it has implemented the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, a role created in 2012 to oversee electric system reliability and interconnection processes. The request specifically seeks information on which reliability functions the Commission has committed to implementing since 2022, when state law required a study on interconnection delays and the establishment of this administrator. The resolution is based on concerns that renewable energy projects face significant delays and that the state may face capacity shortfalls, prompting the legislature to request transparency on progress toward this oversight role.

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 40: URGING THE COUNTY OF HAWAII AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ADOPT ORDINANCES BANNING THE SALE, RENTAL, AND DISTRIBUTION OF DISPOSABLE BODYBOARDS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the County of Hawaii and City and County of Honolulu to pass local laws banning the sale, rental, and distribution of disposable bodyboards made from polystyrene foam. The bill aims to reduce plastic pollution in Hawaii's marine ecosystems by following the lead of Maui and Kauai counties, which have already implemented similar restrictions. It does not create new laws itself but serves as a formal recommendation for the two counties to adopt their own ordinances. The resolution is intended to help minimize waste and protect the state's shoreline and reefs from discarded foam materials.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 122: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY TO JOINTLY DEVELOP A FARMER-TO-INSTITUTION COORDINATION PLAN THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE AINA KITCHEN NETWORK ROLLOUT.

This Senate resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to create a joint plan connecting local farmers with the new AINA Kitchen Network, which will supply school meals statewide. The plan would identify specific crops needed at each construction phase, assess current local production capacity, and develop strategies to help farmers scale operations through infrastructure investment and multi-year contracts. It also calls for replacing handwritten procurement records with a centralized digital tracking system to improve oversight and ensure schools meet their 30% local food sourcing target by 2030.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 190: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONSIDER OFFERING OLELO HAWAII MICRO-CREDENTIALS FOCUSING ON THE NIIHAU DIALECT.

This Senate Resolution requests the University of Hawaii to create a specific pathway for studying the Niihau dialect of the Hawaiian language. The bill recognizes that the Niihau community has preserved a distinct version of Hawaiian that differs from the dialects used in mainstream immersion schools and other educational settings. It aims to formally acknowledge the unique linguistic heritage of Niihau speakers and ensure their specific language needs are addressed within higher education. The resolution directs a copy of this request to the President of the University of Hawaii System for consideration.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 105: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to merge two existing adult education schools, McKinley Community School for Adults and Waipahu Community School for Adults, into one statewide program called the Hawaii State Community School for Adults. The bill aims to improve program coordination, streamline operations, and better serve adult learners by creating a unified system that maintains current services while expanding access across the state. The resolution directs the Department to consult with affected employees and their representatives before implementation, develop a transition plan to minimize disruptions, and set a target start date of July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 47: ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE PREFECTURE OF OKAYAMA, JAPAN.

This bill establishes an official sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and the Prefecture of Okayama, Japan, formalizing existing cultural and historical ties between the two regions. The resolution recognizes shared heritage dating back to Japanese immigration in the late 19th century and builds on decades of grassroots exchanges, including university partnerships and charter flights between the two locations. By designating Okayama as a sister state, Hawaii aims to expand institutional collaboration in areas such as tourism, agriculture, education, and climate resilience while strengthening people-to-people connections between residents of both jurisdictions. The bill directs the transmission of the resolution to relevant state and federal officials to complete the formal establishment of this partnership.

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 192: REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO REVISE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A STANDALONE FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE.

This Senate Resolution requests that Hawaii's Board of Education work with the Department of Education to make completing a standalone financial literacy course a graduation requirement for public high school students. The bill specifically asks for a formal vote to approve this requirement, teacher professional development credits, identification of funding sources, tracking of student completion, and a curriculum plan based on community input. It argues that a dedicated course is more effective than integrating financial literacy into other subjects or the Personal Transition Plan, citing evidence that financial skills improve with focused instruction. The resolution reflects concerns about declining financial literacy among younger generations and the potential long-term benefits of ensuring all students receive practical financial education.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 145: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADD TAX INSTRUCTION TO ITS FINANCIAL LITERACY GRADUATION REQUIREMENT.

This bill urges the Hawaii Department of Education to add tax instruction as a major topic area within the state's existing financial literacy graduation requirement for public school students. The resolution specifically recommends that tax education cover practical skills such as completing a 1040 form, understanding W-4 forms, payroll deductions, and the differences between federal and state income taxes. As a Senate resolution, the bill does not create new legal requirements but instead formally requests the Department of Education to incorporate these tax concepts into the financial literacy standards already in place for students starting with the Class of 2030.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 112: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to combine the McKinley and Waipahu Community Schools for Adults into one statewide program called the Hawaii State Community School for Adults. The bill aims to improve coordination, streamline operations, and better serve adult learners by creating a unified system that maintains current services while expanding program quality. It directs the Department to consult with employee representatives, develop a transition plan to minimize disruption, and target a July 1, 2026 start date for the new unified program.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 163: REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS ON THE BEST PATHS TO MAXIMIZE COST REDUCTION AND MINIMIZE FINANCIAL RISK TO HAWAII RESIDENTS WHILE MEETING STATE GOALS.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to conduct an independent analysis of energy strategies that reduce costs and financial risks for residents while meeting state goals. The bill directs the commission to evaluate various options through 2055, including renewable energy and long-duration storage technologies, without limiting the scope to specific fuel types or pre-set assumptions. The analysis aims to compare different approaches to energy generation and storage to inform future planning and ensure decisions benefit the public interest.

Topics ✓ Energy

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 27: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LICENSING, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THE STATE.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the Department of Education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and recruitment process for school bus drivers. The bill aims to address driver shortages that cause route cancellations and transportation disruptions, particularly affecting students in rural and neighbor island communities. The evaluation will examine barriers such as testing availability, interagency coordination, and workforce pipeline issues, with a deadline to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 103: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE HAWAII HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO EVALUATE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING STATE-OWNED OR STATE-CONTROLLED WAREHOUSE AND LOGISTICS FACILITIES NEAR PORTS, HARBORS, AND AIRPORTS TO REDUCE MATERIAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PUBLICLY FINANCED HOUSING PROJECTS.

This Senate Resolution requests the Department of Transportation and the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation to form a working group to study whether the state should own or control warehouse and logistics facilities near ports, harbors, and airports. The working group would examine how such facilities could lower material costs for publicly funded affordable housing projects by improving supply chain efficiency, enabling bulk purchasing, and reducing transportation delays caused by Hawaii's geographic isolation. The group is tasked with identifying suitable state lands, analyzing cost savings, exploring public-private partnerships, and determining any legal changes needed to implement recommendations. Members will include state agency directors, housing commission leaders, and representatives from industry groups, with a final report due to the Legislature before the 2027 session begins.

Topics ✓ Housing ✓ Transportation