Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2548: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of deferred maintenance. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill transfers funds and functions to address school facility maintenance, directly improving infrastructure which supports educational environments per indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2549: RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Education to hire a new contractor or contractors with the Governor's approval if a contractor under a student transportation contract fails to provide service on a contracted route for five or more consecutive instructional days. Requires the DOE to assess a penalty if a contractor fails to provide service on a contracted route without an approved justification. Specifies that the assessed penalties be deposited into the School Bus Fare Revolving Fund. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires all requests for proposals issued and contracts executed by the DOE for student transportation services to specifically reference certain new provisions. Authorizes the use of the School Bus Fare Revolving Fund to offset costs associated with procuring replacement services. Requires quarterly reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures reliable student transportation by penalizing contractors and funding a revolving fund, directly supporting educational access and school operations.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill ensures school bus service continuity via penalties and revolving fund, protecting student transportation reliability within transportation infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 3047: RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

Requires the Department of Education to implement financial literacy instruction into existing courses in public high schools that have sufficient overlap with financial literacy program standards beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers. Authorizes the Board of Education to adopt rules. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for financial literacy education, aligning with fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs per budget/taxes topic indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy curriculum integration, funds implementation, and requires teacher professional development - directly advancing educational content and resources in K-12 schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 533: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support public schools impacted by a local investor‑owned electric utility's planned public safety power shutoff program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Department of Education for public schools impacted by power shutoffs, directly funding essential education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds to Department of Education for public schools impacted by power shutoffs, directly advancing school funding support under education topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1622: RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes and appropriates funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaii to develop, support, and advance artificial intelligence initiatives statewide. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for UH's Aloha Intelligence Institute to advance AI initiatives, directly funding higher education innovation and statewide educational development.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill appropriates funds to establish an AI institute for statewide development and advancement, directly advancing AI technology initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 637: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

SB 637 allocates state funds to support various nursing education programs within the University of Hawaii System. It directly affects the University of Hawaii System by providing dedicated financial resources for these specific nursing initiatives. The bill's key mechanism is the appropriation of state budget funds to cover program costs, though it does not specify exact program details. The funding becomes effective on July 31, 2050.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state budget funds for nursing education programs, directly funding essential public services within UH System.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates state funds to nursing programs at UH System, directly funding higher education initiatives per bill's appropriation language.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to nursing education programs, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and training within the University of Hawaii System.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1391: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for teacher‑requested classroom supplies; provided that the private sector contributes matching funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds for education supplies with private matching, increasing public service funding under Budget & Taxes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates state funds for teacher-requested classroom supplies with private matching, directly advancing school resource access and teacher support.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1069: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

HB 1069 would add two voting members to the School Facilities Authority Board: one representing the Department of Education and another representing the Board of Education. These members would serve ex officio (in their official roles) and have voting power on the board. The bill directly affects how the School Facilities Authority makes decisions about school construction and maintenance projects. This change modifies the board's composition but does not alter education funding or student policies. (Note: The bill passed committee in February 2025 but remains pending legislative action.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds DOE/BOE members to Facilities Board to improve school construction/maintenance decisions, enhancing infrastructure management per bill's direct focus on facility decision-making.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 789: RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS.

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill caps school meal charges at 25% of cost, increasing affordability/access for students, aligning with educational access support indicators.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 422: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the armed services of the United States or whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by granting high school diplomas to veterans interrupted in education due to military service during WWII, Korean War, or Vietnam War.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes diplomas for veterans interrupted in education due to military service during WWII, Korea, or Vietnam, expanding educational benefits for veterans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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