Education

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 549: RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Requires the Department of Education to establish a recognition program to incentivize schools to submit to the Department a plan for the school to reach the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030. Requires all department high schools to provide a plant-based meal option for school meals, under certain conditions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates plant-based meal options and incentivizes local sourcing in schools, advancing student nutrition programs within K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

passed · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 841: RELATING TO RETIRED TEACHERS.

Amends the break in service requirement for retirants to six months before they can be rehired as teachers or administrators in teacher shortage areas or in hard-to-fill positions. Prohibits rehired retirants from receiving additional employment benefits. Directs the Department of Education to adopt rules to identify teacher shortage areas and hard-to-fill positions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends break-in-service to six months for retired teachers in shortage areas, enabling faster rehiring to address teacher shortages and hard-to-fill positions.95% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentProhibits additional employment benefits for rehired retired teachers, restricting benefits in labor policy context.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 730: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Establishes, and appropriates funds for, five full-time equivalent (5.0 FTE) positions within the Civil Rights Compliance Branch of the Department of Education. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for 5 new civil rights compliance positions within Education Department, directly funding a government program per explicit appropriation subject.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for five equity specialists in Civil Rights Compliance Branch to advance educational equity within Department of Education.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 84: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, establishes a pilot program that requires the Department of Education to include cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training for public school students in grades six through twelve as part of existing health or physical education curriculum. Requires all public elementary, middle, intermediate, and high schools in the state to have a cardiac emergency response plan as part of the pilot program. Establishes standards for the cardiac emergency response plan. Requires school officials to work with county emergency medical service providers to integrate the cardiac emergency response plan into the counties' emergency response plan into the counties' emergency medical service provider protocols. Authorizes uncertified trainers to instruct others in the administration of an automated external defibrillator or cardiopulmonary resuscitation if the course does not result in certification. Terminates at the end of the 2029-2030 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates CPR/AED training in health/PE curriculum and cardiac response plans, expanding student health education requirements.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires school-based CPR/AED training and cardiac emergency plans, enhancing public health preparedness through education and direct health safety measures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Safety Student Health

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Dec 8, 2025

SB 1386: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to establish a program to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsorily or voluntarily induction into the armed services of the United States and to persons whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by creating a program to award high school diplomas to veterans and wartime-impacted individuals, directly advancing opportunities for underserved groups.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates diploma program specifically for veterans interrupted by military service, directly expanding educational benefits and recognition for veterans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Veteran Education

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 288: RELATING TO SCHOOL BUS SERVICES.

Authorizes the Department of Education to use alternative vehicles for student transportation under certain conditions. Allows the Department of Education to institute a staggered school hours program in public schools. Appropriates funds for the purchase of alternative vehicles and individuals to obtain CDL licensure. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates funds for school bus alternatives and CDL training, directly funding public education transportation services under budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for school transportation infrastructure (alternative vehicles, CDL licensure), directly supporting educational access and student mobility to schools.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAppropriates funds for alternative vehicles and CDL licensure, directly supporting school transportation infrastructure and safety under DOT/DOE oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding School Transportation Student Health Driver Licensing Public Transit

Track

in committee · Hawaii · House Dec 8, 2025

HB 1075: RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReduces school meal charges to 25% of cost, increasing affordability and access for students in public schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

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

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SB 2541: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.

Establishes a temporary, independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission to develop and recommend a comprehensive package of school consolidations, realignments, and closures based on the federal Base Realignment and Closure model. Requires an expedited approval process by the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates moneys.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates moneys for school realignment commission, directly funding public school infrastructure under Budget & Taxes topic95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates funds for school facility realignment commission, directly addressing infrastructure needs under education topic via federal BRAC model.90% confidence

Track

signed · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

SB 2614: RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Authorizes the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to qualified persons who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into the armed services of the United States or whose high school education was interrupted due to wartime practices during World War II, the Korean War, or the Vietnam War. (HD2)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for veterans interrupted in high school due to military service, enabling diploma attainment through Department of Education authorization.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEnables veterans interrupted by military service during WWII/Korean/Vietnam Wars to earn diplomas, directly supporting educational benefits and recognition.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Memorials & Recognition Veteran Education