Education (Teachers)

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 75: ENCOURAGING THE HAWAIʻI STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO WORK WITH THE OFFICE OF HAWAIIAN EDUCATION TO CREATE AND CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO ESTABLISH A K-12 HAWAIIAN IMMERSION CAMPUS IN WEST OʻAHU.

This bill encourages the Hawaii State Department of Education to collaborate with the Office of Hawaiian Education to form a working group that would explore creating a K-12 Hawaiian language immersion campus in West Oahu. The working group would meet quarterly for one year to develop a plan, including potential locations, enrollment estimates, governance structures, teacher recruitment strategies, and an implementation timeline targeting establishment by 2040. The group would consist of 15 members representing state education agencies, universities, community organizations, parents, and elected officials to ensure diverse input on the proposal.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill proposes creating a new K-12 Hawaiian immersion campus, expanding educational access and supporting language preservation programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 838: RELATING TO TEACHERS.

Increases the bonus for teachers who achieve and maintain a current national board certification from $5,000 to $10,000. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $5,000 additional state funds for teacher bonuses, directly increasing public service funding allocation under budget management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases teacher bonus for national board certification from $5k to $10k, directly funding retention efforts and aligning with teacher support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2172: RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

Establishes a five-year pilot program to authorize the Department of Education to rehire retired teachers and educational officers for hard-to-staff positions. Sunsets 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates pilot program to rehire retired teachers for hard-to-staff positions, directly addressing staffing shortages in K-12 schools by leveraging experienced educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 421: RELATING TO LITERACY.

Requires the Department of Education to administer a general dyslexia screening to all students in kindergarten through grade three. Requires the Department of Education to continue to administer the general English language arts universal screening for students in kindergarten through grade nine. Requires the Department of Education to collaborate with teacher training programs to ensure prospective candidates are trained on literacy instruction, including evidence-based intervention, to support all students. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires dyslexia/English language arts screenings for K-9 and mandates evidence-based teacher training for literacy instruction, directly advancing student reading proficiency and educator preparedness.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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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 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

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1546: RELATING TO RETIRED TEACHERS.

Requires retirants rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in difficult-to-fill positions to be paid at least the minimum salary for their experience and qualifications. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and difficult-to-fill positions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires minimum salary for rehired retired teachers in shortage areas, directly supporting teacher compensation and retention in critical education roles.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires minimum salary for rehired retirees, protecting wage rights while prohibiting extra benefits. Directly advances compensation standards for this workforce.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Hawaii · House Feb 20, 2026

HB 1937: RELATING TO TAXES.

Excludes the sale of a motor vehicle to a lessor of rental motor vehicles for use as a rental motor vehicle as a sale at wholesale. Imposes the maximum allowable excise tax on the use of tangible personal property in the State for the importation or purchase of a motor vehicle by a lessor of rental motor vehicles for use as a rental motor vehicle. Establishes a Teacher Temporary Hazard Pay Special Fund to pay a temporary hazard pay bonus to certain eligible teachers. Beginning 7/1/2026 until 7/1/2030, deposits the additional tax revenue generated by this Act into the Teacher Temporary Hazard Pay Special Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 7/1/2030. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes max excise tax on rental vehicle purchases (securing revenue) and creates Teacher Hazard Pay Fund (funding public education).90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes Teacher Temporary Hazard Pay Special Fund for teacher bonuses, directly supporting educator compensation and retention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Revenue Sales Tax Teachers

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 6, 2026

SB 2836: RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS.

Establishes a 5-year pilot program to authorize the Department of Education to rehire retired teachers and educational officers for hard-to-staff positions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRehiring retired teachers for hard-to-staff positions directly addresses teacher shortages, strengthening school staffing and educational access in K-12 settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 819: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to establish an international teacher license for certain visa holders and the requirements to obtain the international teacher license. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates international teacher license pathway to expand educator workforce, directly supporting teacher access and school staffing needs in Hawaii.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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