Education (Student Health)

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

GM 1338: Informing the Legislature that on July 13, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2296 HD1 SD2 (ACT 236).

This document is a formal notification from the Governor of Hawaii to the Legislature stating that he signed House Bill 2296 into law on July 13, 2026. The bill itself, titled Act 236, amends state statutes to establish that the price of school meals must be set so that sales revenue covers at least one-quarter of the cost of preparing those meals. It also allows for annual price adjustments based on previous costs and requires the department to offer lower rates or free meals to children based on economic need. Additionally, the law includes a provision allowing the governor to modify specific rules if necessary to avoid jeopardizing federal funding, with such changes subject to legislative review.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates school meal pricing to cover costs and ensures access to lower rates or free meals, directly supporting student nutrition and educational access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 9, 2026

HR 94: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE, TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH LONELINESS AND SOCIAL DISCONNECTION IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS.

This House Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address loneliness and social disconnection. The proposed program would involve collaboration between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Office of Wellness and Resilience to train students in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices. Student peer counselors would serve as trained points of connection within schools, promoting belonging and helping identify students experiencing isolation while referring them to licensed mental health professionals when needed. The resolution recommends implementing the program in phases starting with pilot programs in select schools and includes the Hawaii State Youth Commission in program development and evaluation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes statewide peer counselor program to improve student mental health and social connection in schools, enhancing student support services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes peer counselor program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection, directly supporting mental health services and wellness initiatives in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 76: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A PLAN THAT REMOVES CARCINOGENS FROM SCHOOL MEALS.

This House Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to develop a plan for removing processed meats, which are classified as carcinogens, from school meals by 2032. The plan would require schools to either eliminate processed meats entirely or replace them with whole-food, scratch-made, or minimally processed plant-based alternatives. The Department must create an inventory of current menu items, outline a timeline for changes, establish nutritional standards for replacements, and estimate associated costs. The resolution directs the Department to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature within 20 days of the resolution's passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves student health by removing carcinogens from school meals, enhancing educational environment and student wellness programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill removes carcinogens from school meals, directly improving public health outcomes and protecting students from health risks.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 132: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA TO ADOPT ENERGY SAVINGS PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING AS A PRIMARY STRATEGY TO ADDRESS DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION AND IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY STATEWIDE.

This Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to study how mental health-related absences affect student attendance and well-being. The study will examine how often students miss school due to mental health concerns, review policies in other states that allow such absences, and evaluate whether recognizing these absences as excused could improve student outcomes. The Department of Education must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2026. This bill does not change current attendance policies but instead requests data collection and analysis to inform potential future policy changes.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill seeks to study mental health absences to improve student well-being and attendance, supporting student welfare and educational access.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill promotes mental health awareness by studying mental health-related absences, potentially improving student well-being and supporting mental health services.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 84: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE A PLAN THAT REMOVES CARCINOGENS FROM SCHOOL MEALS.

This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to develop a plan for removing processed meats from school meals by 2032 or replacing them with healthier, minimally processed alternatives. The resolution directs the department to inventory current menus containing processed meats, establish a timeline for the transition, set nutritional standards for replacement options, and estimate associated costs and funding needs. It aims to improve student health by reducing exposure to carcinogens linked to processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, and deli meats, which are currently served in some school programs. The Department of Education must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 session.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill improves student health through healthier school meals, enhancing educational environment and student well-being85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill aims to improve student health by reducing exposure to carcinogens in school meals, aligning with public health and preventive healthcare goals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SCR 113: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE DETAILING FARM-TO-SCHOOL IMPLEMENTATION, LOCAL FOOD PROCUREMENT, REGIONAL KITCHEN ALIGNMENT, AND FEDERAL FARM-TO-SCHOOL GRANT PARTICIPATION.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to submit a report on its farm-to-school program and local food procurement efforts. The bill requires the department to detail how its purchasing aligns with state regional kitchen investments and to provide data on current local food buying levels across different islands and product categories. It also requests information on barriers preventing local farmers from participating in school meals, the status of federal grant applications, and recommendations for improving procurement processes. The report aims to help the legislature understand how well the state is utilizing public investments to support local agriculture and food security.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill promotes farm-to-school initiatives and local food procurement, enhancing student nutrition and supporting local agriculture within the education system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 56: REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO PETITION THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ADDRESS THE DELAY IN UPDATING SCHOOL LUNCH NUTRITION STANDARDS.

This bill requests Hawaii's congressional delegation to ask the U.S. Department of Agriculture to explain why school lunch nutrition standards have not been updated to match the latest Dietary Guidelines. It directly affects Hawaii public schools, which rely on federal guidelines to plan menus and meet state goals for sourcing 30% of food locally by 2030. The resolution highlights concerns that delays in updating standards have made it difficult for schools to develop compliant meal plans and progress toward local food procurement targets. The bill asks federal officials to provide clearer information about upcoming changes to the nutrition standards that will impact school food programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill seeks updated nutrition standards to improve school meal quality, supporting student health and farm-to-school programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 10, 2026

HCR 102: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND OFFICE OF WELLNESS AND RESILIENCE, TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE PEER COUNSELOR PROGRAM TO ADDRESS YOUTH LONELINESS AND SOCIAL DISCONNECTION IN HAWAII'S SCHOOLS.

This House Concurrent Resolution urges Hawaii state agencies to create a statewide peer counselor program for high school students to address youth loneliness and social disconnection. The program would involve trained student peer counselors who receive standardized instruction in active listening, ethical boundaries, and culturally responsive practices to foster peer connections and early identification of emotional distress. The Department of Education would lead implementation in collaboration with the Department of Health, Office of Wellness and Resilience, and Hawaii State Youth Commission, starting with pilot programs in select schools before statewide rollout. The resolution emphasizes face-to-face interaction, trust-building activities, and clear referral pathways to licensed mental health professionals while prioritizing culturally appropriate approaches for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes statewide peer counselor program to address youth loneliness and social disconnection in schools, enhancing student wellness and educational support services.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes peer counselor program to address youth mental health and social disconnection, expanding mental health services in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health Mental Health

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passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HCR 176: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES REGARDING THE STORAGE AND ADMINISTRATION OF ORAL ANTIHISTAMINES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

This bill requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create clear policies for storing and administering oral antihistamines in public schools. It directly affects students with allergies, school staff, and parents by establishing a framework for managing mild allergic reactions during the school day. The key provisions require schools to have written parental consent, individualized physician-approved allergy plans, and trained personnel who can recognize allergy symptoms and properly administer the medication. The resolution also asks the Department to develop standardized forms for consent and protocols, and to report back to the Legislature within 20 days of the 2027 session with findings and any proposed legislation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes safety protocols for students with allergies, enhancing student health and educational access by ensuring proper medication management in schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes policies for administering allergy medication in schools, improving student health safety and access to necessary medical care.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Student Health

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 82: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STRENGTHEN MENSTRUAL HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVES AND TO ADOPT A COMPREHENSIVE MENSTRUAL CYCLE CURRICULUM.

This Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to strengthen menstrual health education in public schools by adopting a comprehensive curriculum. The bill directly affects students, educators, and school administrators by requesting the creation of age-appropriate lessons that cover menstrual biology, hygiene, and cultural perspectives. Key provisions include integrating the four pillars of menstrual dignity - privacy, inclusivity, access, and education - into existing health standards, with specific requirements for elementary schools such as using anatomically correct diagrams and providing age-appropriate books. The resolution also calls for culturally responsive content that includes both Native Hawaiian and Western views on menstruation while ensuring materials are respectful of all students regardless of race, gender, or background.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly urges strengthening menstrual health education and adopting comprehensive curriculum, directly enhancing educational access and student programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens menstrual health education by adopting comprehensive curriculum covering biology, hygiene, and cultural perspectives, improving student health access and awareness.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Student Health

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