Hawaii Bills

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 195: INFORMING THE HOUSE AND GOVERNOR THAT THE SENATE IS READY TO ADJOURN SINE DIE.

This Senate resolution formally notifies the House of Representatives and the Governor that the Senate is prepared to end its current legislative session permanently. The document serves as an official procedural step to signal that the Senate has completed its work and is ready to close the legislature. By transmitting certified copies of this resolution, the Senate initiates the process required to officially adjourn the entire state government for the year.

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 30: URGING THE COUNTY OF HAWAII AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ADOPT ORDINANCES BANNING THE SALE, RENTAL, AND DISTRIBUTION OF DISPOSABLE BODYBOARDS.

This Senate Resolution urges the County of Hawaii and City and County of Honolulu to pass local laws banning the sale, rental, and distribution of disposable bodyboards made from polystyrene foam. The bill aims to reduce pollution of Hawaii's reefs and shorelines by preventing single-use foam boards from breaking apart and entering the marine environment. It follows similar bans already adopted by Maui and Kauai counties and seeks to extend this environmental protection to the remaining two counties in the state. The resolution is a non-binding recommendation rather than a law itself, meaning the two targeted counties must still vote to adopt their own ordinances.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 114: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S INTERNAL AUDIT OFFICE TO CONDUCT SEMIANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND MANAGEMENT AUDITS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ITS ATTACHED AGENCIES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the State Auditor to conduct quarterly performance and management audits of Hawaii's Department of Education and its attached agencies. The bill addresses concerns that the department's internal audit office has a conflict of interest because its director reports directly to the Superintendent, while the existing Audit Committee lacks authority to evaluate program effectiveness for student success. Under this resolution, the Auditor would rotate quarterly audits among different agencies and focus on academic performance, leadership structures, federal funding usage, and school plans. The Department of Education is urged to use these audit findings to evaluate programs and reallocate resources to improve student academic outcomes and workforce readiness.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 153: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A SHARED DECISION MAKING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO ESTABLISH A K-12 KAIAPUNI SCHOOL IN KAPOLEI.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to create a committee to plan a new K-12 Hawaiian language immersion school in Kapolei. The bill addresses the current lack of a full K-12 Kaiapuni school in the area, where students must commute to Honolulu for higher grades. The proposed committee would include educators, community members, parents, and administrators to develop an action plan covering facility planning, teacher recruitment, and curriculum development. The plan aims to phase in the school by the 2027-2028 school year, starting with kindergarten through second grade, with additional grades added in subsequent years.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 188: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION MICRO-CREDENTIAL PILOT PROGRAM DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICE OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND THE HAWAII STATE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to implement a pilot program for micro-credentials developed with the National Education Association, the Department's Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, and the Hawaii State Teachers Association. The program offers licensed teachers in public and charter schools free access to professional development courses if they are members of the participating organizations, with a $75 fee for non-members. Key provisions include posting the program on the Department's website, allowing participants to earn professional development credits upon completion, and requesting the Hawaii State Teachers Association to assist with outreach and verification. The Department of Education is also asked to submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing participation rates, educator feedback, and recommendations for future expansion.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 159: REQUESTING THE OFFICE OF PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TO CONVENE A DEMOLITION WASTE REDUCTION WORKING GROUP.

This Senate Resolution requests the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to form a working group focused on reducing construction and demolition waste in Hawaii. The group will bring together representatives from government agencies, private industries, and community organizations to develop strategies for increasing material reuse and supporting a circular construction economy. Members will include leaders from construction, demolition, real estate, and waste management sectors, along with community groups focused on environmental justice and workforce development. The working group is tasked with identifying solutions to reduce landfill dependency, creating policy recommendations, and submitting annual reports to the Legislature with any proposed legislation.

Topics ✓ Environment

signed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 172: REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS ON THE BEST PATHS TO MAXIMIZE COST REDUCTION AND MINIMIZE FINANCIAL RISK TO HAWAII RESIDENTS WHILE MEETING STATE GOALS.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to conduct an independent analysis of energy options that would reduce costs and financial risks for residents while meeting state renewable energy goals. The resolution calls for two separate evaluations to compare different strategies, including the potential impacts of importing liquefied natural gas versus expanding renewable energy and long-duration battery storage. The analysis is expected to cover energy planning through 2055 and assess how different paths affect consumer costs beyond the state's 2045 renewable energy target. This measure aims to ensure that future energy decisions are based on thorough, objective comparisons rather than assumptions that may limit the scope of available solutions.

Topics ✓ Energy

signed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 195: REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO REVISE PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS TO INCLUDE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A STANDALONE FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution requests that Hawaii's Board of Education work with the Department of Education to change public high school graduation requirements so that students must complete a standalone financial literacy course. The bill addresses concerns that the current approach, which allows financial literacy to be integrated into other courses or the Personal Transition Plan, may not provide sufficient dedicated instruction and accountability. It proposes specific implementation steps including teacher professional development, funding identification, student completion tracking, and a curriculum based on community input. The resolution is based on evidence showing declining financial literacy among younger generations and the benefits of dedicated financial education for post-secondary success.

Topics ✓ Education

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 ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 94: ENDORSING WAIKIKI AS A WORLD SURFING RESERVE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution formally endorses Waikiki as a World Surfing Reserve, recognizing the area's historical significance as the birthplace of surfing and its cultural importance to Native Hawaiian heritage. The resolution acknowledges Waikiki's existing environmental protections, economic value as a tourist destination, and the threats it faces from climate change and pollution. By transmitting copies of the resolution to local government leaders, the bill aims to raise awareness and encourage continued community efforts to preserve Waikiki's surfing ecosystem and natural resources.

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 165: DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MARCH AS MARCH4WATER MONTH IN THE STATE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution designates March 2026 as March4Water Month in Hawaii to raise awareness about water conservation and infrastructure investment. The resolution aligns with global water observances and partners with plumbing and water industry organizations to encourage public participation in water-related education and advocacy activities. It directs copies of the resolution to state and county officials responsible for water management and encourages residents to support water resource initiatives.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 183: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MEET THE CRITERIA NECESSARY TO OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZE CHEERLEADING AS A TITLE IX SPORT IN HAWAII.

This Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education to officially recognize competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport, which would grant high school cheer athletes equal athletic opportunities and access to resources like certified coaching and safety oversight. The bill directs the Department of Education to develop guidelines and safety standards in collaboration with the Hawaii High School Athletic Association to meet federal Title IX criteria for classifying cheerleading as an interscholastic sport. This resolution applies specifically to high school competitive cheerleading programs in Hawaii and aims to align the state's policies with federal requirements for gender equity in athletics.

Topics ✓ Education

Bill results