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

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 189: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO REISSUE REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE JOB ORDER CONTRACTING PROGRAM CONTRACTORS AND PREQUALIFIED SMALL CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE FUTURE SCHOOLS NOW PROGRAM.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to reissue Requests for Proposals for contractors under the Future Schools Now program, which uses job order contracting to quickly repair school facilities. The bill directly affects the state education agency and construction firms, asking them to restart the bidding process for both general contractors and prequalified small businesses before current contracts expire. By reissuing these proposals in 2026, the resolution aims to ensure continuous funding and services for school repairs without interruption, maintaining the program's ability to address the state's backlog of facility maintenance. The Department of Education is also asked to submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing the program's progress, including the number of projects completed and total spending.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill seeks to reissue RFPs for school facility repairs under Future Schools Now program, directly supporting school infrastructure maintenance and educational access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 131: REQUESTING THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR, FOR INCLUSION IN THE STATE UNIFIED PLAN, A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE WORKFORCE STRATEGY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PEOPLE OF THE STATE HAVE A PATHWAY TO A CAREER THAT ENABLES THEM TO LEARN, WORK, AND THRIVE IN THE STATE AND CONTRIBUTE TO A VIBRANT LOCAL ECONOMY GROUNDED IN COMMUNITY VALUES BY 2045.

This Senate Resolution asks the Workforce Development Council to create a long-term statewide workforce strategy by 2045 that aims to help all residents find careers enabling them to learn, work, and thrive in Hawaii. The proposed strategy would be included in the State Unified Plan and would focus on improving work-based learning opportunities, expanding living-wage jobs, reducing underemployment, and strengthening partnerships between industries and education providers. It seeks to address concerns about high living costs and limited employment opportunities that have led many residents to consider leaving the state. The resolution directs the council to develop specific plans and measurable goals to guide state and county efforts toward these shared workforce objectives.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens workforce-education partnerships and expands work-based learning opportunities, directly supporting educational access and career pathways.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill seeks to create workforce strategy to expand living-wage jobs, improve work-based learning, and strengthen industry-education partnerships for all residents.85% 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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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 1605: RELATING TO HUMAN AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience for the development of its human and community resilience institute. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill appropriates funds for a University of Hawaii institute (higher education), directly funding institutional development within the education sector.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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