STAND. COM. REP. NO. 486-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2297

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. 2297 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to update the State's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal adult education funding requirements and current best practices in those programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges.

Your Committee finds that the existing statute governing adult and community education programs contains outdated terminology and program descriptions that no longer align with federal funding requirements under the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act, title II of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and implementing regulations in title 34 Code of Federal Regulations part 463, or with current best practices. As a result, the State risks misalignment with federal funding streams and programmatic expectations. This measure modernizes and expands the scope of adult education in the State to provide adults with greater access to updated and relevant educational opportunities that support personal growth, family stability, civic participation, and workforce readiness, while ensuring that Hawaii's adult education statute remains current and consistent with federal law.

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. 2297, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2297, 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