Education

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1803: RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017 for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public charter schools statewide for certain physical activities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires heat safety policy with funding for K-12 students, protecting health and safety in schools through mandated policy adoption and appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1779: RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all public school students, including public charter school students, regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded school meals coverage, increasing public education spending without tax changes.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free school meal access to all DOE students regardless of federal program participation, increasing educational access and support for school nutrition programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free school meals, a public health nutrition program, improving student access to healthy meals under public health initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1781: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Numeracy Coaching Program to provide numeracy coaches in certain Department of Education elementary schools, middle schools, and intermediate schools to support teachers, improve instruction, and ensure that students develop a strong foundation in mathematics. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for a new education program, directly supporting budget allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes numeracy coaching program with funding to support teachers and improve math instruction in K-12 schools, directly advancing educational quality through targeted resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2019: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

HB 2019 appropriates funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer financial support for family-child interaction learning programs. The bill directly affects the Executive Office on Early Learning, which will manage the funding, and the early learning programs serving families with young children. This is a funding bill with no policy changes, solely providing resources for existing family-child interaction initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for existing early learning programs, directly advancing essential public services under budget allocation without policy changes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates funds for family-child interaction learning programs, directly supporting early education initiatives through existing funding mechanisms without policy changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2391: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2391 creates a temporary sales tax exemption for school supplies, meaning businesses selling these items would not collect the usual general excise tax during the holiday period. This directly affects consumers purchasing school supplies and the businesses selling them, as the bill requires retailers to pass any tax savings directly to shoppers. The key provision is a time-limited tax holiday where the state waives the sales tax on qualifying items, but businesses must lower prices for customers rather than keeping the savings. The policy aims to reduce costs for families buying school essentials during the holiday period. (Note: This is a policy change, not a procedural bill.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides temporary tax relief for school supplies, directly reducing consumer costs during holiday period. Aligns with tax relief for middle-income families without defunding or tax increases.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTax exemption on school supplies lowers costs for families, directly improving access to educational materials for K-12 students during the holiday period.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2399: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

HB 2399 appropriates state funds to the State Public Charter School Commission specifically for prekindergarten-only public charter schools. This bill directly affects prekindergarten-only public charter schools by providing them with dedicated state funding through the Commission. The key mechanism is a budget allocation for operational support, without changing eligibility rules or student enrollment requirements. The bill is currently in early stages, having been introduced on January 27, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds to prekindergarten charter schools via Commission, directly funding public education programs under Budget & Taxes category.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates state funds to prekindergarten public charter schools, directly increasing funding and supporting early education access without restrictions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2489: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates moneys to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a master's degree program for interpreter training. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds to establish ASL interpreter bachelor's and master's programs at University of Hawaii, directly expanding higher education access and training opportunities in a specialized field.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1925: RELATING TO CLIMATE EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a climate literacy certificate program to provide students with an advanced understanding of climate change through academic coursework and hands-on learning. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates climate literacy certificate program enhancing curriculum and student learning within education system, advancing educational access and curriculum development.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill mandates climate literacy education program to advance student understanding of climate change, directly promoting environmental awareness and education as per topic indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1596: RELATING TO STUDENT BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes a Basic Needs Pilot Program at a single campus of the University of Hawaii system. Authorizes the establishment of a Housing Stability Pilot Project at that campus. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for UH Basic Needs and Housing Stability Pilot, directly supporting student access and stability in higher education.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes a Housing Stability Pilot Project at UH campus and appropriates funds, directly funding student housing stability programs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2147: PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES VIII AND X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH A SURCHARGE ON RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT PROPERTY TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.

Proposes amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution to repeal the counties' exclusive power to tax real property, and to authorize the Legislature to establish a state surcharge on real property taxes levied by the counties on certain residential investment properties, for the purpose of helping to fund public education for all of Hawaii's children and adults. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes state surcharge on residential investment property taxes to fund public education, increasing state revenue for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProposes constitutional amendment to impose surcharge on investment properties specifically to increase public education funding, directly advancing education finance.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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