Education

passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2602: RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

Requires that tuition, tuition-related course and fee charges, and other charges to students deposited into the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund be allocated and expended in accordance with Board of Regents policies governing systemwide operations. On 6/30/2029, requires unencumbered funds in the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund that exceeds the reserve level established by the Board of Regents to lapse to the general fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRedirects excess tuition funds from UH special fund to general fund, limiting university's financial resources without increasing education funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 657: RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology within the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds to establish a university center, directly funding higher education infrastructure per bill's summary.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAppropriates funds to establish a climate resilience center focused on climate change adaptation, directly advancing environmental protection efforts through dedicated funding and research.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1345: RELATING TO TEACHER EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to subsidize all tuition and mandatory fees for a resident student enrolled in a 4-year college campus of the University of Hawaii System with an education program or that offers an education degree for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSubsidizes tuition/fees for teacher education programs, directly funding future educators and strengthening teacher pipeline through state-approved programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 563: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE.

Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and stipends for high school and college students. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for student stipends, internship programs, and workforce development at UH, directly advancing higher education access and student support programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1320: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain graduate outcome data. Requires and appropriates funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard. Appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for UH graduate outcomes dashboard, staff, and annual reports to enhance data-driven educational improvement in higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 1585: RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes and implements evidence-based performance metrics for the P-20 Partnerships for Education to allow better evidence-based assessments of the P-20 Partnerships for Education advisory council's workforce and pathway development programs. Requires reports to the Legislature. Authorizes the expenditure of Perkins V federal funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes Perkins V federal funds for P-20 education programs and establishes performance metrics to improve assessment of workforce/pathway development, directly advancing education funding and program effectiveness.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2345: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of capital improvement projects. Transfers all capital improvement project functions, funds, and vacant Facilities Development Branch positions from the Department of Education to the School Facilities Authority. Clarifies that general funds shall not be used for operations or management of the Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationTransfers deferred maintenance management to School Facilities Authority, improving school infrastructure maintenance without defunding education programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 1840: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program. Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires HTSB to extend the five-year period in the case of a declared state of emergency. Requires the Department of Education to provide support to assist emergency hires in meeting the requirements of licensure and require the training be mandatory for emergency hires in their fourth and fifth years. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates pathway for international educators via J-1 visas, facilitating teacher staffing and access to diverse educators in Hawaii schools.90% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationCreates pathway for J-1 educators, facilitating immigration integration for international teachers via visa-aligned permits.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 1952: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvements for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's Agricultural Research and Extension Station on Kauai. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds capital improvements for University of Hawaii's agricultural research station, directly supporting higher education infrastructure and research capacity.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Apr 14, 2026

GM 656: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board, Gubernatorial Nominee, DALE ARAKAKI, for a term to expire 06-30-2028.

This is a Governor's nomination submission, not a legislative bill. Governor Green has submitted Dale Arakaki for confirmation to the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board to fill a vacancy, with a term expiring June 30, 2028. The Senate must consider and confirm this nomination per Hawaii Constitution Article V, Section 6. The nomination directly affects the Teacher Standards Board's composition and its oversight of educator licensing in Hawaii. This procedural step requires Senate confirmation but does not change existing law or policy.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationConfirms nominee to Teacher Standards Board, maintaining oversight of educator licensing, supporting education system integrity.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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