STAND. COM. REP. NO. 503-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1803

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. 1803 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy, based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017, for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public charter schools in the State; and

(2) Appropriate funds for training and implementation of the heat acclimatization and practice policy and for the purchase of wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers for all Department of Education schools and all public charter schools.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; ʻAhahui o nā Kauka; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Public Health Association; Life of the Land; Edmar Castillo Photography; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Board of Education.

Your Committee finds that the State has experienced rising air temperatures, with annual peak averages consistently breaking record highs. Exercising in hot and humid weather can be dangerous, as the body's ability to cool itself through sweating becomes less effective under humid conditions. When sweat cannot evaporate efficiently due to high moisture levels in the air, the danger of heat-related illnesses increases. This poses a risk for children during school hours, as they lack control over the timing of any outdoor activities, such as recess and sports practices.

Your Committee notes that the Hawaii High School Athletic Association published a Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy to advise on exertional heat illness and athlete safety. Your Committee believes that adopting the Policy will provide the necessary guidance for managing extreme heat during outdoor school activities.

Your Committee further finds that wet-bulb globe temperature measurements are the gold standard for assessing heat stress. To respond to increases in severe heat-related illnesses, several schools in the State are piloting the use of wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers during certain outdoor activities to guide safety decisions and collect localized data. The use of wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers statewide will serve as a practical tool for ensuring safer outdoor activities.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations to unspecified amounts;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of:

(1) $15,000 to the Department of Education for the training and implementation of heat acclimatization and practice policy adopted by the Board of Education pursuant to this measure;

(2) $15,000 to the Public Charter School Commission for the training and implementation of heat acclimatization and practice policy adopted by the Board of Education pursuant to this measure;

(3) $250,000 to provide wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers to all Department of Education schools statewide; and

(4) $38,500 to provide wet-bulb globe temperature thermometers to all public charter schools statewide.

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. 1803, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1803, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair