HB 1770 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.

Summary

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)

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2026 Last action Feb 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB1770 → HB1770_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to streamline the legislative text by removing redundant clauses regarding a 'School Bus Driver Outreach and Pathway Program' and consolidating the reporting requirements. The effective date was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, likely as a placeholder for future determination. Additionally, the bill now explicitly instructs the Revisor of Statutes to convert the new section letters into appropriate numbers during codification.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the mandate to establish a separate 'School Bus Driver Outreach and Pathway Program,' reducing the number of required reporting metrics, and simplifying the appropriations structure.

REQUIREMENT

Eliminated the requirement to establish a 'School Bus Driver Outreach and Pathway Program' and removed reporting metrics specifically tied to that program.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000.

TECHNICAL

Added a new section instructing the Revisor of Statutes to substitute appropriate section numbers for the letters used in the new statutory sections.

REPORTING

Reduced the number of required quarterly reports by removing metrics related to the eliminated outreach program.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 5, 2026

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 26-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LAB.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDN, LAB, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Pending introduction.

lower

20 primary · 0 co-sponsors