Hawaii Bills

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 124: URGING THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO FINALIZE, PRIORITIZE, AND MATERIALIZE THE MAKAKILO DRIVE EXTENSION PROJECT.

This Senate Resolution urges the City and County of Honolulu to prioritize and complete the Makakilo Drive Extension Project to address traffic congestion in the Makakilo and Kapolei areas. The bill requests that city officials finalize planning, identify funding, and establish a timeline for construction, while also submitting a progress report to the Legislature by early 2027. It is based on a 2009 environmental study that found the extension would not significantly harm local resources and reflects long-standing community advocacy for improved regional connectivity. The resolution does not mandate funding or construction but serves as a formal request to the city to move the project forward.

Topics ✓ Transportation

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 89: ENDORSING WAIKIKI AS A WORLD SURFING RESERVE.

This Senate Resolution formally endorses Waikiki as a World Surfing Reserve, recognizing the area's historical significance to Native Hawaiian surf culture and its status as a globally renowned surf destination. The resolution highlights Waikiki's unique combination of rich surfing heritage, environmental importance, and economic value as a major tourist attraction. It acknowledges existing local management structures and the need to protect the area from climate change impacts while supporting ongoing conservation efforts. The resolution is non-binding and serves to transmit formal recognition to state and local officials, including the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Waikiki Beach Special Improvement District Association.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 187: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ESTABLISH A FRAMEWORK IN THE OFFICE OF FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS THAT IMPROVES RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY FOR MONITORING ALL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS.

This Senate Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to create a system that assigns responsibility for monitoring school construction and repair projects to local school leaders in each complex area. Under this proposal, local Complex Area Superintendents and their staff would oversee project progress from planning through completion, while the state Office of Facilities and Operations would keep overall management authority and provide statewide oversight. The resolution requires local leaders to submit quarterly reports on project status, budget, and any delays to the state office, which would then review the reports and offer technical assistance. The Department of Education must also develop clear procedures defining roles and responsibilities for all parties and report back to the Legislature by early 2027 with details on the new framework.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 99: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO STUDENTS ON HOW TO PREREGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE REACHING VOTING AGE.

This Senate Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education to inform students aged sixteen and older about how to preregister to vote before they turn eighteen. The bill directs schools to provide specific guidance on voter eligibility, registration procedures, and opportunities to volunteer at voter service centers, while also making paper application forms and accessibility resources available. Additionally, it designates the last two weeks of September each year as a dedicated period for high schools to hold voter registration and preregistration events with election officials present. This measure aims to increase civic engagement among youth by making voting information more accessible within the school system.

Topics ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 96: REQUESTING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO PROVIDE A REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE PROGRESS OF THE HAWAII ELECTRIC RELIABILITY ADMINISTRATOR.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission to provide a written update on how it has implemented the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, a role created in 2012 to oversee electric system reliability and interconnection processes. The request specifically seeks information on which reliability functions the Commission has committed to implementing since 2022, when state law required a study on interconnection delays and the establishment of this administrator. The resolution is based on concerns that renewable energy projects face significant delays and that the state may face capacity shortfalls, prompting the legislature to request transparency on progress toward this oversight role.

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 40: 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 Concurrent 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 plastic pollution in Hawaii's marine ecosystems by following the lead of Maui and Kauai counties, which have already implemented similar restrictions. It does not create new laws itself but serves as a formal recommendation for the two counties to adopt their own ordinances. The resolution is intended to help minimize waste and protect the state's shoreline and reefs from discarded foam materials.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 122: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY TO JOINTLY DEVELOP A FARMER-TO-INSTITUTION COORDINATION PLAN THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE AINA KITCHEN NETWORK ROLLOUT.

This Senate resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to create a joint plan connecting local farmers with the new AINA Kitchen Network, which will supply school meals statewide. The plan would identify specific crops needed at each construction phase, assess current local production capacity, and develop strategies to help farmers scale operations through infrastructure investment and multi-year contracts. It also calls for replacing handwritten procurement records with a centralized digital tracking system to improve oversight and ensure schools meet their 30% local food sourcing target by 2030.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 190: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII TO CONSIDER OFFERING OLELO HAWAII MICRO-CREDENTIALS FOCUSING ON THE NIIHAU DIALECT.

This Senate Resolution requests the University of Hawaii to create a specific pathway for studying the Niihau dialect of the Hawaiian language. The bill recognizes that the Niihau community has preserved a distinct version of Hawaiian that differs from the dialects used in mainstream immersion schools and other educational settings. It aims to formally acknowledge the unique linguistic heritage of Niihau speakers and ensure their specific language needs are addressed within higher education. The resolution directs a copy of this request to the President of the University of Hawaii System for consideration.

Topics ✓ Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 105: REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, TO REQUIRE COMPLETION OF COMPREHENSIVE COURSEWORK IN READING, LANGUAGE, AND LITERACY AS A CONDITION FOR GRADUATION FROM ANY STATE-APPROVED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAM LEADING TO TEACHER LICENSURE.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to merge two existing adult education schools, McKinley Community School for Adults and Waipahu Community School for Adults, into one statewide program called the Hawaii State Community School for Adults. The bill aims to improve program coordination, streamline operations, and better serve adult learners by creating a unified system that maintains current services while expanding access across the state. The resolution directs the Department to consult with affected employees and their representatives before implementation, develop a transition plan to minimize disruptions, and set a target start date of July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Education

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 47: ESTABLISHING A SISTER-STATE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF HAWAII, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE PREFECTURE OF OKAYAMA, JAPAN.

This bill establishes an official sister-state relationship between the State of Hawaii and the Prefecture of Okayama, Japan, formalizing existing cultural and historical ties between the two regions. The resolution recognizes shared heritage dating back to Japanese immigration in the late 19th century and builds on decades of grassroots exchanges, including university partnerships and charter flights between the two locations. By designating Okayama as a sister state, Hawaii aims to expand institutional collaboration in areas such as tourism, agriculture, education, and climate resilience while strengthening people-to-people connections between residents of both jurisdictions. The bill directs the transmission of the resolution to relevant state and federal officials to complete the formal establishment of this partnership.

signed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 100: CONVENING A WORKING GROUP TO ESTABLISH A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE TO SUPPORT SANCTUARIES AND OTHER CONSERVATION-RELATED INITIATIVES FOR ENDANGERED AND OTHER SPECIES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution establishes a working group to study how Hawaii could create a state-recognized nonprofit organization to support endangered species sanctuaries and conservation projects. The group will be led by committee chairs from both legislative chambers and will include representatives from natural resources agencies and invited experts. Its main task is to research successful sanctuary models used in other places, examine how they are governed, and propose a structure for a new nonprofit that could help protect Hawaii's unique wildlife. The working group must submit its findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. This resolution does not create the nonprofit itself but sets up a process to develop plans for one.

Topics ✓ Environment

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 192: 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 Resolution requests that Hawaii's Board of Education work with the Department of Education to make completing a standalone financial literacy course a graduation requirement for public high school students. The bill specifically asks for a formal vote to approve this requirement, teacher professional development credits, identification of funding sources, tracking of student completion, and a curriculum plan based on community input. It argues that a dedicated course is more effective than integrating financial literacy into other subjects or the Personal Transition Plan, citing evidence that financial skills improve with focused instruction. The resolution reflects concerns about declining financial literacy among younger generations and the potential long-term benefits of ensuring all students receive practical financial education.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Bill results