This House Resolution congratulates five educators in Hawaii who have been recognized for their achievements in 2025 and 2026. The bill formally acknowledges Matthew Brown as the 2025 Librarian of the Year, Jacquelyn McCandless as the 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year, Leka Anitema as a 2026 School Counselor of the Year national finalist, and Christopher Justo as the 2026 Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua Complex Area Teacher of the Year. The resolution also recognizes the 2026 Aiea-Moanalua-Radford Complex Area Teacher of the Year, though that individual is not named in the provided text. These individuals are being honored for their leadership and contributions to education and library services across Hawaii.
Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030. Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Requires the Department of Transportation to administer the Safe Routes to School Program. Amends the purposes for which funds of the Safe Routes to School Special Fund may be used for. Establishes deadlines for when funds from Safe Routes to School Special Fund that are allocated to the counties should be obligated or expended by. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
Entitles unaccompanied homeless youth, including runaway youth, with the rights, as provided by the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, to immediate enrollment in school, full participation in school activities, and access to comparable school and educational services provided to other students. Establishes a student-centered, safety-first protocol for unaccompanied homeless youth enrolling in or attending school. Permits unaccompanied homeless youth to provisionally enroll in school without providing immunization records. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)
Establishes block appropriations and increases fiscal flexibility for the University of Hawaii. Establishes a University of Hawaii Budget Stabilization Fund, authorizes limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, and implements performance‑based funding metrics. Requires annual fiscal and performance reporting to the Legislature and provides a transition framework for the move to block budgeting. Effective July 1, 3000. (HD2)
Requires the Department of Education to provide additional benefits to: (1) teachers with special assignments where their duties and responsibilities are greater than their ordinary duties and responsibilities; (2) teachers in Hawaiian language medium education whose responsibilities are greater or unique and require additional language skills; and (3) teachers at special needs schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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)
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)
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.
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.)
