Education

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 559: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in the personal transition plan requirement for each student.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy in personal transition plans, enhancing curriculum standards for student preparedness and financial skills development.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 869: RELATING TO ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION.

HB 869 expands eligibility for the Hawaii Community College Promise Program scholarships to include all qualified students, not just current participants. The bill provides state funding to cover these expanded scholarships, ensuring more Hawaii residents can access affordable community college education. It directly affects students seeking associate degrees or certificates at Hawaii's community colleges who meet income and residency criteria. The legislation modifies the existing program by broadening access while securing dedicated funding for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands community college scholarship eligibility with state funding, increasing access to higher education for qualified students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 43: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in department schools. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for universal free school meals, increasing public service funding under state budget95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for universal free school meals, expanding access and supporting student nutrition to enhance educational outcomes.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 89: RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.

Establishes the Teacher Home Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD3)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds from revolving fund for teacher housing program, directly funding a public service initiative under budget allocation95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides housing vouchers via dedicated fund to support teacher recruitment/retention, directly strengthening educator stability in K-12 education system.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds housing vouchers for eligible teachers via Teacher Home Assistance Program, directly advancing affordable housing access for educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 3237: RELATING TO PROTECTED COMMUNITY LOCATIONS.

Establishes statewide standards for state and county agencies, officers, and employees, and recipients of state funds, to limit participation in civil immigration enforcement in or near protected community locations that provide state-funded services related to education, physical or mental health, social services such as shelter care or food assistance, or access to justice, including schools, health care facilities, libraries, shelters, and places of worship. Requires the Department of Education, State Public Charter School Commission, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Hawaii State Public Library System, and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency to adopt and post written policies, provide annual staff training, and maintain data privacy protections. Appropriates funds for implementation by the Attorney General.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts law enforcement from conducting immigration enforcement in schools, health facilities, and shelters, protecting access to services and civil rights - aligns with criminal justice reform principles.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProtects schools from immigration enforcement, ensuring safe access to education for all students including immigrant families, aligning with DOE's role in state-funded education services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly protects healthcare facilities (including mental health) from immigration enforcement, removing barriers to access and supporting healthcare services.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill protects shelters (housing services) from immigration enforcement, ensuring access to housing support for vulnerable populations.85% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationLimits state agency cooperation with federal immigration enforcement near schools, health facilities, and shelters, protecting immigrant access to essential services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Libraries School Choice Mental Health Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 1770: RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a School Bus Driver Recruitment Grant Program. Establishes a School Bus Driver Recruitment Special Fund. Establishes a Repayment Signing Bonus Program. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates funding programs (Recruitment Grant, Special Fund) to recruit school bus drivers, ensuring student transportation access and supporting K-12 school operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Transportation

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 13, 2026

SR 15: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MANDATE THE TEACHING OF PRE-1959 HAWAIIAN HISTORY FROM AN INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVE, BEGINNING NO LATER THAN SCHOOL YEAR 2027-2028, ACROSS ALL GRADE LEVELS WHERE SOCIAL STUDIES IS TAUGHT.

This Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to mandate teaching pre-1959 Hawaiian history from an Indigenous perspective in all public school social studies classes, beginning no later than the 2027-2028 school year. It specifically calls for curriculum changes to address gaps in current teaching, which overemphasize post-1959 events and omit Indigenous perspectives on Hawaiian governance, land systems, and pivotal historical moments like the 1893 overthrow. The resolution requires collaboration with Native Hawaiian educators and cultural practitioners to develop the curriculum, materials, and teacher training. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests this educational reform.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates curriculum change to include Indigenous Hawaiian history perspective in social studies, addressing gaps in current K-12 education content.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2496: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

SB 2496 appropriates state funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer support for family-child interaction learning programs. It directly affects early childhood education providers and families participating in these programs by providing dedicated funding. The key mechanism is the allocation of specific budget resources to the Executive Office, which will distribute funds to eligible local programs focused on parent-child engagement. This bill does not change program requirements but ensures financial support for existing early learning initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds to early learning programs, directly increasing budget allocation for public services as required by the topic's indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates state funds for early childhood education programs, directly funding family-child interaction learning initiatives through the Executive Office on Early Learning.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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passed · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 2436: RELATING TO ARTS INTEGRATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Establishes within the Department of Education arts integration coordinator or specialist positions to support fine arts education and arts integration in public schools statewide. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for arts integration coordinator positions in public schools, directly increasing state budget allocation for education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates DOE arts integration positions and appropriates funds for fine arts education, directly advancing curriculum and program support in public schools.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1068: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Allows newly graduated high school students to be eligible for workers' compensation coverage during the summer following their high school graduation while participating in work-based learning programs established and regulated by the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables work-based learning programs by providing workers' comp coverage, enhancing student access to educational opportunities under DOE regulation90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation benefits to high school graduates in work-based learning programs, enhancing workplace safety protections for this group.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Child Labor Workers' Compensation

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