Education

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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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 21, 2026

HB 2005: RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS.

HB 2005 establishes a statewide language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii, funded through state appropriations. The program aims to train workers in language access services, directly impacting the University of Hawaii system and future state workforce development efforts. It requires the university to develop training curricula and implement the program, with funding allocated for this purpose. The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 3000 (a date likely reflecting a typo in the official record).

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds language access program at University of Hawaii, directly supporting higher education workforce development and educational access through state appropriations.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds workforce development program training workers in language access services, advancing employment standards through skill-building and state-funded workforce preparation.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SCR 201: 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 Concurrent Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Education to reissue Requests for Proposals for contractors and prequalified small contractors to continue the Future Schools Now program, which uses job order contracting to repair school facilities more quickly and efficiently than traditional methods. The bill directly affects the state's public school system by ensuring uninterrupted access to construction services for addressing a backlog of over $1 billion in deferred maintenance needs across aging school facilities. Key provisions ask the department to initiate new procurement contracts in 2026 before existing agreements expire, maintain the use of job order contracting for accelerated repairs, and submit a report to the Legislature by early 2027 detailing the program's performance metrics.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill requests funding and resources to repair school facilities, directly improving school infrastructure and ensuring continuity of educational services.95% confidence | Rep's Stance Voted absent

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 20, 2026

SB 2602: RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

Requires that tuition, tuition-related course and fee charges, and other charges to students deposited into the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund be allocated and expended in accordance with Board of Regents policies governing systemwide operations. On 6/30/2029, requires unencumbered funds in the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund that exceeds the reserve level established by the Board of Regents to lapse to the general fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRedirects excess tuition funds from UH special fund to general fund, limiting university's financial resources without increasing education funding.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 657: RELATING TO THE CENTER FOR CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT.

Appropriates funds for the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology within the University of Hawaii at Manoa to establish and operate a Center for Climate Resilient Development. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds to establish a university center, directly funding higher education infrastructure per bill's summary.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAppropriates funds to establish a climate resilience center focused on climate change adaptation, directly advancing environmental protection efforts through dedicated funding and research.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1345: RELATING TO TEACHER EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to subsidize all tuition and mandatory fees for a resident student enrolled in a 4-year college campus of the University of Hawaii System with an education program or that offers an education degree for the semester or term that the student enrolls in a State-Approved Teacher Education Program under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationSubsidizes tuition/fees for teacher education programs, directly funding future educators and strengthening teacher pipeline through state-approved programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 563: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE.

Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and stipends for high school and college students. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for student stipends, internship programs, and workforce development at UH, directly advancing higher education access and student support programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 1320: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Requires the University of Hawaii System to collect, analyze, and publicly report certain graduate outcome data. Requires and appropriates funds for the development and maintenance of a graduate outcomes dashboard. Appropriates funds for positions within the University of Hawaii's Office of the Vice President of Academic Strategy. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for UH graduate outcomes dashboard, staff, and annual reports to enhance data-driven educational improvement in higher education.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · Senate Apr 17, 2026

SB 1585: RELATING TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

Establishes and implements evidence-based performance metrics for the P-20 Partnerships for Education to allow better evidence-based assessments of the P-20 Partnerships for Education advisory council's workforce and pathway development programs. Requires reports to the Legislature. Authorizes the expenditure of Perkins V federal funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill authorizes Perkins V federal funds for P-20 education programs and establishes performance metrics to improve assessment of workforce/pathway development, directly advancing education funding and program effectiveness.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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passed both · Hawaii · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 2345: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of capital improvement projects. Transfers all capital improvement project functions, funds, and vacant Facilities Development Branch positions from the Department of Education to the School Facilities Authority. Clarifies that general funds shall not be used for operations or management of the Authority. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationTransfers deferred maintenance management to School Facilities Authority, improving school infrastructure maintenance without defunding education programs.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Education

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