STAND. COM. REP. NO. 25-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2012

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2012 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMMUNITY LITERACY LABS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Department of Education to establish and implement a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii State Public Library System.

Your Committee finds that literacy is vital for success in academics, employment, economic progress, and civic life. Your Committee further finds that schools face limitations in time, staff, and resources to address the literacy needs of their students. Your Committee believes that the establishment of community literacy labs will increase reading proficiency for students through community-based and culturally relevant programs that are coordinated with schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing, rather than requiring, the Department of Education to prioritize the establishment and implementation of community literacy labs in communities demonstrating the greatest literacy and access needs;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2012, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2012, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair