Education

signed · Hawaii · House Jun 4, 2026

HB 2297: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Updates Hawaii's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal funding requirements and current best practices in those programs. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationUpdates Hawaii's adult/community education framework to align with federal funding and best practices, enhancing program effectiveness and funding alignment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

signed · Hawaii · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 2138: RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance for graduate degrees at UH, increasing access to higher education funding for National Guard personnel.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands tuition assistance to graduate degrees for Hawaii National Guard members, directly enhancing educational benefits for veterans as a subset of service members.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed both · Hawaii · House May 27, 2026

HB 2437: RELATING TO ARTS EDUCATION.

HB 2437 allocates state funds to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to support its "Artists in the Schools" program. This program directly brings professional artists into public schools to provide hands-on arts education. The bill provides concrete funding for the program's operations, including artist stipends and materials. It affects participating public schools and their students by expanding access to in-person arts instruction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for arts education program, increasing public service funding under budget appropriations.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates state funds to expand in-person arts education access via Artists in the Schools program, directly funding artist stipends and materials for public schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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signed · Hawaii · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 2125: RELATING TO TEACHER LICENSING.

Allows the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires that unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis make continuous and verifiable progress toward satisfying licensing requirements. Sunsets on 6/30/2031, but provides that unlicensed emergency hires employed before the sunset date may continue employment for up to five years from their hiring date, under certain conditions. (CD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves 3-year limit for unlicensed teachers while requiring progress toward licensure, supporting teacher retention and professional development in education.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 27: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LICENSING, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THE STATE.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the Department of Education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and recruitment process for school bus drivers. The bill aims to address driver shortages that cause route cancellations and transportation disruptions, particularly affecting students in rural and neighbor island communities. The evaluation will examine barriers such as testing availability, interagency coordination, and workforce pipeline issues, with a deadline to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill addresses school bus driver shortages affecting student transportation access, directly supporting educational access and continuity for students, especially in rural and neighbor island communities.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill seeks to improve workforce pipeline and address driver shortages, supporting employment stability and workforce development for school bus drivers.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill seeks to improve school bus driver licensing, training, and workforce pipeline to address transportation disruptions and ensure reliable student transportation services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 31: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LICENSING, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THE STATE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Department of Transportation to work with the Department of Education to study how to improve the process for hiring and training school bus drivers in Hawaii. The bill addresses ongoing shortages of qualified drivers that have led to canceled routes and disrupted transportation for students, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities. The requested evaluation will examine barriers to commercial driver's licensing, coordination between agencies and private contractors, and strategies to expand testing and training access. The departments must consult with various stakeholders and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 regular session.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill addresses school bus driver shortages affecting student transportation access, particularly in rural areas, strengthening educational access and logistics.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill seeks to improve workforce pipeline and address driver shortages, supporting employment standards and workforce development for school bus drivers.75% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill seeks to improve school bus driver training and licensing, addressing workforce shortages that disrupt student transportation.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House May 1, 2026

HB 549: RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds early learning apprenticeship program for providers, supporting educational access and workforce development in early education through appropriations.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2320: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Establishes the Kuleana AgTech Pathways Program to create career pipelines in the fields of agriculture and agricultural technology. Requires the University of Hawaii to collaborate with the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and appropriate community organizations to develop and administer the program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes AgTech career pathways program with DOE collaboration, appropriates funds for educational pipeline development, directly advancing K-12/higher education opportunities in agricultural fields.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates agtech career pathways with DLIR collaboration, funding workforce development in agriculture sector to advance employment opportunities.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyFunds AgTech career pathways via University of Hawaii collaboration, directly advancing agricultural technology sector through program development and appropriations.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2550: RELATING TO SCHOOL MODERNIZATION.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a school modernization initiative through a capital improvement project planning database for school facilities statewide. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for school modernization initiative, directly funding public infrastructure under state budget authority.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for school modernization initiative via capital improvement database, directly improving school infrastructure and facilities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 1, 2026

SB 2024: RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to use public-private partnerships for the development of public school facilities, including facilities at public charter schools. Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a pilot program to develop three new public schools in areas based on demonstrated need through public-private partnerships. Requires the approval of the Department of Education prior to the development of a public school for the pilot program on Department lands. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for charter school facilities through public-private partnerships, directly funding public education infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for new public schools in high-need areas via public-private partnerships, directly improving school infrastructure and access per education topic description.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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