STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3269

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2012

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2012, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to establish and implement a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program;

(2) Require reports to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System, Teach for America Hawaiʻi, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that continued reports of insufficient literacy rates, including a number of high school graduates reading below a twelfth grade proficiency level, necessitate additional literacy efforts in the State, particularly in underserved communities. Early, community-based literacy interventions have been demonstrated to close opportunity gaps and improve family engagement and capacity. This measure will therefore increase educational equity, reading proficiency, and lifelong educational outcomes.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 31, 2055, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2012, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair