Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 91: 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 EducationRequires financial literacy inclusion in personal transition plans, expanding curriculum content to enhance student financial education and preparedness.90% confidence

Track

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

Sub-Topics State Budget Career & Technical Education School Funding

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 245: RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE SAFETY.

Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to conduct a study on the current practices of managing heat exposure in state public and charter schools to protect students' health during outdoor activities and to develop a plan if the current practices are insufficient in managing heat exposure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates study and plan to protect student health during outdoor school activities, ensuring safe learning environment under education safety protocols.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 973: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires and appropriates funds to pay salary differentials to English language educators as an incentive to attract and retain these educators. Appropriates funds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for educator salary differentials, directly funding an essential education program through budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for salary differentials to attract/retain English language educators, directly supporting teacher compensation and retention in education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Feb 2, 2026

SB 3189: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

SB 3189 allocates state funds to the State Public Charter School Commission specifically for prekindergarten-only public charter schools. This bill directly affects those schools by providing dedicated funding for their operations. The key mechanism is a state appropriation to support early childhood education programs within this specific school type. It does not change eligibility rules or create new programs, only funding existing preK-only charter schools through the Commission. The bill is currently in committee referral after its initial introduction and first reading.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state appropriation ($50M) specifically for prekindergarten charter schools' operations, directly funding essential early education programs under budget management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates state funds to preK-only charter schools for early learning programs, directly funding existing educational services without restrictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Early Childhood School Choice

Track

signed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 3123: RELATING TO PRIVATE SUPPORT OF EDUCATION.

Clarifies that free tuition at private educational institutions or school-conditioned enrollment at private educational institutions where no tuition or other monetary consideration is required or paid by the recipient are to be considered conditional gifts that support educational advancements rather than contractual obligations unless the parties agree otherwise in writing. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies private tuition gifts as non-contractual educational support, enabling donor contributions to advance education without legal barriers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1223: RELATING TO WATER SAFETY.

SB 1223 requires the Department of Education to create a pilot program teaching water safety skills in schools, with state funds provided for this initiative. The program would establish standardized water safety education for students, directly affecting public school systems and students in participating districts. Key provisions include appropriating dedicated funding to develop and implement the pilot, which must follow established safety standards. The bill is currently pending introduction for the 2026 legislative session.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates state funds for DOE to implement water safety curriculum pilot in schools, directly advancing K-12 educational programming.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 2374: RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in Department of Education schools. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support school educational activities and tree propagation, enhancing student engagement with native species.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes native tree planting for conservation, ecosystem health, and collaboration with forestry/wildlife divisions per bill's environmental focus.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Wildlife

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 239: RELATING TO DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.

Requires certain state buildings, including public school buildings, for which construction is anticipated to commence on or after 7/1/2026 to be designed to withstand category five hurricanes and be used as shelters in the event of an emergency. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires public school buildings to withstand hurricanes, improving infrastructure safety per education topic indicators.90% confidence

Track

passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1489: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

Requires the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGuarantees resident tuition rates for Hawaii high school graduates in UH undergrad programs, reducing costs and enhancing higher education access per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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