Education

passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 30, 2026

HB 2397: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Transfers school impact fees from the Kalihi-Ala Moana school impact district to the School Impact Fees subaccount of the School Facilities Special Fund for the acquisition and renovation of one or more buildings, or the acquisition of land and construction of a new building, in the 96813 zip code to develop and expand pre-kindergarten and charter school capacity. Provides that the funds appropriated and expended shall be used to serve students residing within the Kalihi-Ala Moana school impact district, with certain exceptions. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationTransfers fees to fund building renovations for expanded pre-K and charter school capacity, directly increasing educational access and infrastructure.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 3179: RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS.

Requires the Department of Education and public charter schools to take certain steps regarding incidents of harassment and implement procedures for handling harassment of educational workers. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates harassment reporting and safety procedures for educational workers, directly protecting staff in schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates harassment reporting and safety procedures for educational workers, directly strengthening workplace safety protections under Labor & Employment.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 2875: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates pathway for international educators under J-1 visas, expanding teacher workforce access to Hawaii schools without funding cuts or restrictions.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationCreates pathway for J-1 visa educators to work in Hawaii schools, aligning permits with visa duration, supporting immigrant integration in education90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2687: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the Department of Education to report to the Legislature on the integration of certain content into existing social studies curricula at public schools. Establishes a one-year 100th Infantry Battalion history curriculum pilot program within certain public high schools during the 2026-2027 school year. Requires reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of 100th Infantry Battalion history in curricula, enhancing educational content on Asian American history and school curriculum standards.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill mandates teaching 100th Infantry Battalion (WWII veterans unit) history in schools, recognizing veteran service per topic description.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2548: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of deferred maintenance. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill transfers funds and functions to address school facility maintenance, directly improving infrastructure which supports educational environments per indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 2549: RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Requires the Department of Education to hire a new contractor or contractors with the Governor's approval if a contractor under a student transportation contract fails to provide service on a contracted route for five or more consecutive instructional days. Requires the DOE to assess a penalty if a contractor fails to provide service on a contracted route without an approved justification. Specifies that the assessed penalties be deposited into the School Bus Fare Revolving Fund. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires all requests for proposals issued and contracts executed by the DOE for student transportation services to specifically reference certain new provisions. Authorizes the use of the School Bus Fare Revolving Fund to offset costs associated with procuring replacement services. Requires quarterly reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill ensures reliable student transportation by penalizing contractors and funding a revolving fund, directly supporting educational access and school operations.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill ensures school bus service continuity via penalties and revolving fund, protecting student transportation reliability within transportation infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 3047: RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY.

Requires the Department of Education to implement financial literacy instruction into existing courses in public high schools that have sufficient overlap with financial literacy program standards beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers. Authorizes the Board of Education to adopt rules. Appropriates funds. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates state funds for financial literacy education, aligning with fiscal responsibility and funding essential programs per budget/taxes topic indicators.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates financial literacy curriculum integration, funds implementation, and requires teacher professional development - directly advancing educational content and resources in K-12 schools.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 2872: RELATING TO RETIRED EDUCATION EMPLOYEES.

Repeals the requirement that retirants rehired as teachers or administrators serve in a teacher shortage area identified by the Department of Education. Requires retirants rehired after 6/30/2026 as teachers or administrators in Department or charter schools to be paid the entry level salary for the teacher or administrator position as negotiated in the collective bargaining unit contract. Prohibits retirants rehired after 6/30/2026 from receiving additional employment benefits. Requires the DOE to adopt rules. (SD1)

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationReduces benefits for rehired retirees by capping pay at entry level and prohibiting additional benefits, directly limiting teacher compensation.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRequires rehired retirants to accept entry-level pay and prohibits additional benefits, reducing compensation compared to prior roles and limiting employment benefits.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 533: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support public schools impacted by a local investor‑owned electric utility's planned public safety power shutoff program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to Department of Education for public schools impacted by power shutoffs, directly funding essential education services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds to Department of Education for public schools impacted by power shutoffs, directly advancing school funding support under education topic.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1622: RELATING TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

Establishes and appropriates funds to establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute within the University of Hawaii to develop, support, and advance artificial intelligence initiatives statewide. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for UH's Aloha Intelligence Institute to advance AI initiatives, directly funding higher education innovation and statewide educational development.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill appropriates funds to establish an AI institute for statewide development and advancement, directly advancing AI technology initiatives.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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