STAND. COM. REP. NO. 693-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2533

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. 2533 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to provide additional benefits to:

(A) Teachers with special assignments in which their duties and responsibilities are greater than their ordinary duties and responsibilities;

(B) Teachers in Hawaiian language medium education whose responsibilities are greater or unique and require additional language skills; and

(C) Teachers at special needs schools; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Department of Education for these additional benefits.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hoaloha Project and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that teachers fill a critical role in guiding children and youth through their formative years. Your Committee further finds that teacher retention nationwide has been negatively impacted by stress resulting from excessive workloads and insufficient support.

Your Committee notes that significant teacher-related stress is linked to responsibilities that exceed typical teaching duties, including administrative tasks, extended hours, and providing mental health support to students. These issues remain prevalent in the State where, despite recent advancements in teacher retention, education officials continue to express concerns regarding long-term workforce stability. Your Committee recognizes that teachers who undertake comparable extra duties do not receive equivalent benefits and believes that addressing this disparity will increase teacher retention while recognizing the exceptional efforts of these teachers.

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. 2533, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2533, 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