Informing the Legislature that on July 2, 2025, the Governor signed the following bill into law: SB1065 SD2 HD1 CD1 (ACT 276).

This bill prohibits state and county agencies in Hawaii from requiring a bachelor's degree as a condition for hiring in public employment, except when skills-based hiring is not viable for a specific role. It directly affects all state and county job postings, aiming to address labor shortages by expanding applicant pools beyond degree requirements. The law allows exceptions only if a bachelor's degree is reasonably necessary for the position's required knowledge or skills. The legislation was signed into law as Act 276 on July 2, 2025, following findings that degree requirements historically limited workforce diversity and contributed to vacancies.