Education

passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 16, 2026

HB 1952: RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for capital improvements for the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience's Agricultural Research and Extension Station on Kauai. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds capital improvements for University of Hawaii's agricultural research station, directly supporting higher education infrastructure and research capacity.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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in committee · Hawaii · Senate Apr 14, 2026

GM 656: Submitting for consideration and confirmation to the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board, Gubernatorial Nominee, DALE ARAKAKI, for a term to expire 06-30-2028.

This is a Governor's nomination submission, not a legislative bill. Governor Green has submitted Dale Arakaki for confirmation to the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board to fill a vacancy, with a term expiring June 30, 2028. The Senate must consider and confirm this nomination per Hawaii Constitution Article V, Section 6. The nomination directly affects the Teacher Standards Board's composition and its oversight of educator licensing in Hawaii. This procedural step requires Senate confirmation but does not change existing law or policy.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationConfirms nominee to Teacher Standards Board, maintaining oversight of educator licensing, supporting education system integrity.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 429: RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

HB 429 allocates state funds to hire teachers and teacher assistants and purchase equipment and services for public preschool programs. It directly affects public preschools by providing resources to improve staffing levels and facility capabilities. The bill becomes effective on July 1, 2050, after legislative approval. The measure passed committee with amendments in February 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates state funds for preschool teacher hiring, equipment, and services to improve staffing/facility capabilities, directly advancing early education access and resources.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 440: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes the Future Career and Technical Education Teacher Scholarship Program to be administered by the Department of Education to facilitate the recruitment and retention of career and technical education teachers in Hawaii public schools. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for teacher scholarship program, directly funding education through state budget as indicated in subjects and summary.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes scholarship program to recruit/retain CTE teachers, appropriates funds to address teacher shortages in Hawaii public schools.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 2, 2026

SB 894: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Appropriates funds to the Department of Education for regional kitchen expansion to fulfill the local farm-to-school meal goal requiring thirty per cent of the food served in public schools to consist of locally sourced products. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds to DOE for regional kitchen expansion to meet farm-to-school meal goals, directly funding a public education program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for regional kitchens to meet farm-to-school meal goals (30% locally sourced food), directly funding school meal programs under DOE authority.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 714: RELATING TO HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds to support educational training programs to expand the State's health care workforce, including funding to support health care certification programs offered in public high schools and education programs that support certified nurse assistants in becoming licensed practical nurses. Effective 12/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for health care workforce training, increasing state budget allocation for public education and health services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds health care certification programs in public high schools and nurse assistant education programs, directly advancing educational opportunities in K-12 settings.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds health care workforce training programs, expanding certified nurse assistant pathways to LPN licensure, directly advancing healthcare workforce development through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds healthcare workforce training programs, enabling career advancement for workers like nurse assistants, directly supporting employment standards and worker development.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HB 620: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes braille literacy as a policy of the State. Requires literacy assessments for eligible low vision and blind students to include braille instruction and the use of braille. Authorizes the Department of Education to adopt administrative rules. Establishes the Braille Literacy Resource Center. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates funds for Braille Literacy Resource Center and related programs, directly allocating state budget resources to fund an educational initiative.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates braille literacy assessments, funds Braille Literacy Resource Center, and requires DOE rules for blind/low vision students' educational access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 2391: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Provides annual salary step increases for public schools and public charter school teachers who have completed one year's satisfactory service and comply with specified requirements, if negotiated into a collective bargaining agreement pursuant to section 89-9, HRS, and subject to funds appropriated by the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides annual salary increases for public school teachers under collective bargaining, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides annual salary increases for teachers via collective bargaining, directly advancing wages and labor rights under Labor & Employment policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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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 absent

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passed both · Hawaii · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2545: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.

Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to establish the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Matching Program. Requires the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation, in collaboration with the Department of Education, to establish a STEM education outreach program, under which recipients of funds from the SBIR Matching Program must deliver presentations to public school students. Requires and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation to develop an Economic Diversification Strategic Plan. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds for economic diversification and defense ecosystem development. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates STEM education outreach program requiring SBIR recipients to present to public school students, enhancing educational access and STEM education.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyAppropriates funds for HTDC to establish tech innovation programs, STEM outreach, and economic diversification strategic plan, directly advancing technology development.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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