SB 530 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO BRAILLE LITERACY.

Summary

Establishes Braille literacy as a policy of the State. Requires literacy assessments for eligible low vision and blind students to include Braille instruction and the use of Braille. Authorizes the Department of Education to adopt administrative rules. Establishes the Braille Literacy Resource Center. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Feb 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB530 → SB530_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to change its effective date from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050, likely a clerical error intended to be 2026. The text was also reformatted from a standard bill draft to a Senate Draft 1 version, updating metadata and correcting the title to uppercase.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on Braille literacy, but the effective date change significantly delays when the new requirements and funding take effect.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2050.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated from 'SB530' to 'SB530 SD1' and metadata was updated to reflect the Senate Draft 1 revision.

The title of the bill was capitalized to 'RELATING TO BRAILLE LITERACY'.

Formatting and line breaks in the legislative findings and purpose sections were adjusted for consistency.

Minor wording changes were made to the definitions and assessment requirements, such as specifying 'initial or most recent assessments' and clarifying documentation for when Braille is deemed inappropriate.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDU/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 340) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Hashimoto, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Aquino, Fevella.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

7 primary · 1 co-sponsor