STAND. COM. REP. NO. 498-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1934

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. 1934 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LIBRARIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require and appropriate funds for the Executive Office on Early Learning to establish an Imagination Library of Hawaii Program to provide one free book each month to children from birth through five years of age who reside in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Friends of the Library of Hawaiʻi; Oʻahu Inclusive Co-op; and nine individuals. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that access to books at an early age is one of the most effective ways to build literacy skills and prepare children for success in kindergarten and beyond. This measure is intended to encourage the development of a love of reading and build strong literacy skills from early childhood, regardless of a family's income.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000.

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. 1934, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1934, 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