STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3636

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1840

H.D. 2

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1840, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to help reduce Hawaii's teacher shortage by improving teacher retention and recruitment.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Hawaii State Teachers Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit that authorizes a visiting international educator to teach all subjects and grade levels for which the educator is qualified and is employed by the Department of Education;

(2) Extends from three years to five years the duration during which the Department of Education or a charter school may employ an unlicensed teacher on an emergency basis;

(3) Requires the Hawaii State Teachers Board, in the case of a declaration of a state of emergency, to authorize an extension of the five-year period for an emergency hire to complete licensing requirements; and

(4) Requires the Department of Education to provide support to assist emergency hires in meeting the requirements of teacher licensure.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Executive Office on Early Learning, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Roots Reborn Maui, Teacher Lounge, The Legal Clinic, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board.

Your Committee finds that teachers who are actively teaching in classrooms while working toward full licensure fulfill a critical role in maintaining instructional continuity, particularly in rural, neighbor island, and high-need schools where staffing challenges are most acute. Your Committee believes that providing these individuals with additional time to satisfy full licensure requirements will not only help schools address immediate staffing needs but also improve long-term outcomes for the school's students.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1840, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair