This bill, signed into law by the Governor of Hawaii on July 13, 2026, authorizes the state Department of Education to award high school diplomas to specific individuals who missed earning one due to military service or wartime disruptions. It expands eligibility beyond the previous law to include those who served in the armed forces during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War, as well as those whose education was interrupted by wartime practices during those same conflicts. To receive a diploma, eligible applicants must submit the required forms to the department proving they were residents of Hawaii at the time and did not complete their high school curriculum. This change updates existing statutes to recognize the educational contributions of veterans and affected individuals from three major 20th-century wars.
This bill directs the Hawaii Department of Transportation to spend $2,000,000 from the safe routes to school fund on pedestrian safety improvements near schools. The funding is intended to install features such as all-way crosswalks and raised intersections at locations where crash data or pedestrian activity indicates a need for enhanced protection. The legislation is named in honor of Tehya Mahelona, a teenager who died in a traffic crash, and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes a two-year pilot program in Hawaii where elementary students in grades four through six research, write, and illustrate their own books. The initiative targets up to ten public schools in Kalihi and Nanakuli-Waianae, allowing teachers to choose topics related to Hawaiian culture, the local community, or personal stories. To support the program, the state will appropriate $50,000 for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, provided that private sources contribute at least 25% of the funding. Participating schools will receive budgets to implement the project as part of their existing curriculum, and the Department of Education must submit a report to the legislature in 2029 evaluating the program's success and feasibility for expansion.
This bill, signed into law as Act 233, establishes a framework for automatic annual salary increases and longevity steps for public school teachers in Hawaii who complete satisfactory years of service. The legislation requires that these pay raises be negotiated into collective bargaining agreements and explicitly conditions their implementation on the legislature appropriating specific funds to cover the costs. By linking compensation adjustments to future budget approvals, the bill aims to address teacher retention while maintaining legislative control over public spending.
This bill, signed into law as Act 234, aims to enhance the safety of educational workers in Hawaii, including teachers, staff, and sports officials, by establishing new protections against harassment. It requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to investigate harassment claims internally, report threats to law enforcement within 48 hours, and develop emergency safety plans and clear reporting procedures. Additionally, the bill authorizes the Attorney General to assist harassed workers in obtaining temporary restraining orders and grants eligible employees paid leave to attend related court proceedings. These measures are designed to create a more secure environment for educators by providing specific tools and resources to address harassment incidents.
This bill establishes the Hawaii Braille Literacy Education Act to improve educational access for students with low vision or blindness. It requires the Department of Education to provide braille instruction and materials, offer literacy support services, and collaborate with other agencies to maintain a state register of the blind. The law also mandates that the department share information about assistive technology and participate in creating individualized education plans for affected students.
This bill updates the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to better align with recent federal financial aid regulations. It directly affects students enrolled at University of Hawaii community colleges by changing how their scholarship awards are calculated. Under the new rules, grants, scholarships, and other funding sources will no longer be subtracted from the program's award amount, allowing students to use those funds for indirect costs like housing and food instead. The legislation ensures that eligible students can receive scholarships covering ninety-five percent of their unmet direct cost needs while complying with federal guidelines.
This bill requires the Hawaii Department of Education to create an updated plan for maximizing Medicaid reimbursements for administrative and support services provided to students with special needs. The Department must also submit annual reports to the legislature detailing how it meets specific Medicaid claim requirements, such as verifying student eligibility, maintaining proper documentation, and ensuring services are delivered by licensed providers. These reports will include data on the number of students served, the amount of federal funds leveraged, and how the reimbursement money is reinvested. Additionally, the Department must provide training materials and evidence of training for staff involved in delivering these school-based services.
This bill updates Hawaii's existing interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children to align with current federal laws. It directly affects school districts and families of active-duty military members by revising legal definitions within the state statutes. The key change involves correcting references to the United States Code to ensure the compact accurately reflects how military service and deployment are defined today. By amending specific sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes, the legislation ensures that students can continue their education without interruption when their parents are relocated due to military orders.
This document is a formal notification from the Governor of Hawaii to the Legislature stating that he signed House Bill 2296 into law on July 13, 2026. The bill itself, titled Act 236, amends state statutes to establish that the price of school meals must be set so that sales revenue covers at least one-quarter of the cost of preparing those meals. It also allows for annual price adjustments based on previous costs and requires the department to offer lower rates or free meals to children based on economic need. Additionally, the law includes a provision allowing the governor to modify specific rules if necessary to avoid jeopardizing federal funding, with such changes subject to legislative review.
