CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 178-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1894

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 1894, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Department of Education to:

(1) Include the instruction of braille and provision of braille instructional materials under certain circumstances;

(2) Provide braille literacy support services;

(3) Cooperate with the Department of Human Services when requested to submit information necessary to maintain a register of the blind in the State;

(4) Provide comprehensive information about braille literacy services, assistive technology devices, and assistive technology services, including educational programming options; and

(5) Participate in the development of section 504 plans and individualized education programs.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $300,000; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2026.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1894, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1894, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Chair	____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON Co-Chair
____________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE LEE Co-Chair
____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Co-Chair