Education (School Transportation) in Hawaii

introduced · Hawaii · Senate Jul 14, 2026

GM 1340: Informing the Legislature that on July 13, 2026, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB1785 HD1 SD1 CD1 (ACT 238).

This bill allows Hawaii's Department of Education to temporarily suspend or remove parts of school bus contracts if a contractor fails to provide service for five or more consecutive school days. It authorizes the superintendent to hire a temporary replacement carrier through an emergency agreement lasting up to twelve months while a permanent solution is sought. Additionally, the law permits the department to charge financial penalties to contractors who do not fulfill their obligations without valid justification, with those funds used to cover replacement transportation costs.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics School Transportation

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HR 134: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO TRANSITION THE SCHOOL BUSES USED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO ELECTRIC BUSES TO EXPAND THE BENEFITS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED IN OTHER PLACES.

This bill is a non-binding resolution that urges Hawaii's Department of Education and Board of Education to create a plan for transitioning school buses to electric vehicles. It directs these agencies to collaborate with districts that have already made the switch, such as Oakland, to study potential benefits like reduced emissions, lower maintenance costs, and improved student safety. The resolution requires a report with findings and recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature by late 2027.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Electric Vehicles Electric Vehicles

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 2, 2026

HR 54: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MILILANI ʻIKE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS USING SCHOOL CROSSWALKS.

This House Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and City and County of Honolulu to improve safety at the Mililani 'Ike Elementary School crosswalk where students face traffic risks. The bill requests specific safety measures including speed bumps, warning signage, and a solar-powered rapid flashing crosswalk sign to alert drivers. It also asks for a "STOP Here for Pedestrians" sign to be installed up to fifty feet before the crosswalk. The resolution is directed at state and local officials to implement these visibility and speed reduction measures at the intersection of Mehe'ula Parkway and Kuao'a Street.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety School Transportation Pedestrian Safety

passed both · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SCR 31: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LICENSING, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THE STATE.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Department of Transportation to work with the Department of Education to study how to improve the process for hiring and training school bus drivers in Hawaii. The bill addresses ongoing shortages of qualified drivers that have led to canceled routes and disrupted transportation for students, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities. The requested evaluation will examine barriers to commercial driver's licensing, coordination between agencies and private contractors, and strategies to expand testing and training access. The departments must consult with various stakeholders and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the start of the 2027 regular session.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Driver Licensing Public Transit

in committee · Hawaii · House Mar 18, 2026

HCR 142: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO TRANSITION THE SCHOOL BUSES USED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO ELECTRIC BUSES TO EXPAND THE BENEFITS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED IN OTHER PLACES.

This bill urges Hawaii's Department of Education to create a plan for transitioning its public school buses to electric vehicles. The resolution cites existing state laws requiring greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence, while highlighting benefits observed in other districts like Oakland, including lower operating costs, improved air quality, and enhanced disaster response capabilities. The Department of Education is asked to collaborate with stakeholders, study the Oakland model, and submit a report with recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027. As a concurrent resolution, this document serves as a formal recommendation rather than a law that directly mandates funding or immediate changes.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Electric Vehicles Air Quality Climate Change Electric Vehicles

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SCR 101: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO TRANSITION THE SCHOOL BUSES USED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO ELECTRIC BUSES TO EXPAND THE BENEFITS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED IN OTHER PLACES.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution urges the Hawaii Department of Education and Board of Education to create a plan for transitioning public school buses to electric models. The bill cites existing state laws requiring greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence as the legal basis for this initiative. It references successful examples from other districts, such as Oakland, where electric buses have shown benefits like longer lifespans, lower operating costs, improved air quality, and enhanced disaster response capabilities. The resolution requests that the education agencies collaborate with stakeholders and submit a report with findings and a proposed implementation plan to the Legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Electric Vehicles Air Quality Climate Change Electric Vehicles

in committee · Hawaii · Senate Apr 6, 2026

SR 95: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO TRANSITION THE SCHOOL BUSES USED FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO ELECTRIC BUSES TO EXPAND THE BENEFITS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED IN OTHER PLACES.

This Senate Resolution urges Hawaii's Department of Education and Board of Education to create a plan for transitioning school buses used for public transportation to electric models. The bill cites existing state laws requiring greenhouse gas reduction and energy independence as the legal basis for this request. It calls for collaboration with districts that have already made the switch, such as Oakland, to evaluate potential benefits including reduced emissions, lower operating costs, improved air quality, and enhanced disaster response capabilities. The resolution requires a report with findings and recommendations to be submitted to the Legislature by the end of 2026.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Energy ✓ Environment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Electric Vehicles Air Quality Climate Change Electric Vehicles

passed · Hawaii · House Apr 1, 2026

HR 173: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP, ADOPT, AND IMPLEMENT A STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN GOVERNING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AT OR WITHIN ONE THOUSAND FEET OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ADOPT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AT CERTAIN SCHOOL-RELATED LOCATIONS AND EVENTS.

This House Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to create a standardized emergency response plan for immigration enforcement activities near public schools. The plan would apply to incidents occurring within one thousand feet of school campuses, at school-sponsored events, and on school buses during student transport. Key provisions include establishing clear protocols for handling federal immigration officers on or near school grounds, protecting student safety and emotional well-being, and ensuring consistent communication with parents and staff. The resolution also requires the department to include staff training, coordination with state agencies, and periodic updates to the plan to reflect changes in law or best practices.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Immigration

Sub-Topics School Safety School Transportation Enforcement Sanctuary Policies

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 184: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP A PROPOSAL FOR A TIERED, COORDINATED, AND STANDARDIZED BELL SCHEDULE FRAMEWORK FOR DEPARTMENT SCHOOLS.

This Senate Resolution asks Hawaii's Department of Education to create a standardized bell schedule framework for all public schools in the state. The proposal aims to address current inconsistencies in school start and end times that create challenges for families, transportation planning, and coordination with community programs. The framework would organize schedules by school level - elementary, middle, and high school - while allowing local flexibility within state instructional hour requirements. The Department of Education is directed to consult with school administrators, teachers, parents, students, and transportation providers during the development process.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety School Transportation

passed · Hawaii · Senate May 12, 2026

SR 27: REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LICENSING, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THE STATE.

This Senate Resolution requests the Hawaii Department of Transportation, working with the Department of Education, to evaluate and recommend improvements to the licensing, training, and recruitment process for school bus drivers. The bill aims to address driver shortages that cause route cancellations and transportation disruptions, particularly affecting students in rural and neighbor island communities. The evaluation will examine barriers such as testing availability, interagency coordination, and workforce pipeline issues, with a deadline to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2027.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Labor & Employment ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics School Transportation Driver Licensing Public Transit

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