Education

passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1803: RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE.

Requires the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017 for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public charter schools statewide for certain physical activities. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires heat safety policy with funding for K-12 students, protecting health and safety in schools through mandated policy adoption and appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1779: RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all public school students, including public charter school students, regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands state-funded school meals coverage, increasing public education spending without tax changes.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands free school meal access to all DOE students regardless of federal program participation, increasing educational access and support for school nutrition programs.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free school meals, a public health nutrition program, improving student access to healthy meals under public health initiatives.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1781: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a Numeracy Coaching Program to provide numeracy coaches in certain Department of Education elementary schools, middle schools, and intermediate schools to support teachers, improve instruction, and ensure that students develop a strong foundation in mathematics. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for a new education program, directly supporting budget allocation for public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes numeracy coaching program with funding to support teachers and improve math instruction in K-12 schools, directly advancing educational quality through targeted resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2019: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

HB 2019 appropriates funds to the Executive Office on Early Learning to administer financial support for family-child interaction learning programs. The bill directly affects the Executive Office on Early Learning, which will manage the funding, and the early learning programs serving families with young children. This is a funding bill with no policy changes, solely providing resources for existing family-child interaction initiatives.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for existing early learning programs, directly advancing essential public services under budget allocation without policy changes.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates funds for family-child interaction learning programs, directly supporting early education initiatives through existing funding mechanisms without policy changes.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2391: RELATING TO TAXATION.

HB 2391 creates a temporary sales tax exemption for school supplies, meaning businesses selling these items would not collect the usual general excise tax during the holiday period. This directly affects consumers purchasing school supplies and the businesses selling them, as the bill requires retailers to pass any tax savings directly to shoppers. The key provision is a time-limited tax holiday where the state waives the sales tax on qualifying items, but businesses must lower prices for customers rather than keeping the savings. The policy aims to reduce costs for families buying school essentials during the holiday period. (Note: This is a policy change, not a procedural bill.)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides temporary tax relief for school supplies, directly reducing consumer costs during holiday period. Aligns with tax relief for middle-income families without defunding or tax increases.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTax exemption on school supplies lowers costs for families, directly improving access to educational materials for K-12 students during the holiday period.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2399: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

HB 2399 appropriates state funds to the State Public Charter School Commission specifically for prekindergarten-only public charter schools. This bill directly affects prekindergarten-only public charter schools by providing them with dedicated state funding through the Commission. The key mechanism is a budget allocation for operational support, without changing eligibility rules or student enrollment requirements. The bill is currently in early stages, having been introduced on January 27, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates state funds to prekindergarten charter schools via Commission, directly funding public education programs under Budget & Taxes category.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates state funds to prekindergarten public charter schools, directly increasing funding and supporting early education access without restrictions.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2489: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Appropriates moneys to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a master's degree program for interpreter training. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds to establish ASL interpreter bachelor's and master's programs at University of Hawaii, directly expanding higher education access and training opportunities in a specialized field.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2168: RELATING TO THE EDUCATION OF STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a program for the support of students experiencing homelessness. Requires the Department to designate a state coordinator position and state navigator positions to implement the program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates dedicated program with coordinators/navigators to support homeless students' educational access, directly expanding student services per topic description.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 2298: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the armed services of the United States or whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by awarding diplomas to veterans interrupted in education due to military service during specific wars, directly advancing educational attainment for a targeted group.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAuthorizes high school diplomas for veterans interrupted in education due to military service in WWII, Korean War, or Vietnam War, expanding educational benefits for veterans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · House Mar 10, 2026

HB 1967: RELATING TO PERMITTING.

Implements certain recommendations of the SPEED Task Force. Requires the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to develop a permitting workforce pipeline in partnership with the University of Hawaii and community colleges and coordinate with state and county permitting agencies on certain tasks related to classification levels, salary and benefits, hiring, and responsibilities of employees. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds permitting workforce pipeline via UH and community colleges, supporting higher education partnerships and workforce development.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates salary/benefits coordination for permitting workforce pipeline, directly addressing employment standards and funding through appropriations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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