STAND. COM. REP. NO. 204-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2374

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. 2374 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy. Your Committee received testimony in support of the intent of this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that hotter temperatures induced by climate change affect a student's ability to play, gather, and learn outside while attending school. Your Committee further finds that one approach to reduce the effect of hotter temperatures on students in public schools is to increase the tree canopy on school campuses, which will not only provide shade and heat reduction, but also will absorb storm water, clean the air, beautify campuses, and help reach county and state environmental goals. Your Committee believes that allowing the establishment of a Shade and Fruit Tree Program will help grow native shade trees and fruit trees that will provide comfortable shade in public school campuses throughout Hawaii.

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. 2374, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2374, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair