STAND. COM. REP. NO. 73-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2298

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. 2298 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Education to award a high school diploma to a qualified person who did not receive a high school diploma as a result of compulsory or voluntary induction into active service in 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.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Office of Veterans Services; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that compulsory induction into active service in the Armed Services of the United States and other wartime practices caused individuals to defer their educational goals and ultimately forego pursuit of a high school diploma. Your Committee further finds that authorizing the Department of Education to award high school diplomas to these individuals allows them to receive recognition and gratitude from the State for their wartime sacrifices to their country.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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. 2298, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2298, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Public Safety.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair