STAND. COM. REP. NO. 419-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2534

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 Economic Development & Technology, to which was referred H.B. No. 2534, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ROBOTICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education to establish robotics as an interscholastic sport.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from CARES and numerous 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 robotics programs provide valuable hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning opportunities. Robotics programs support critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity, and have contributed to student engagement and success across the State.

Your Committee further finds that robotics programs face instability due to high operational costs, mentor shortages, and inconsistent funding. These challenges have resulted in the loss of numerous school robotics teams across the State. This measure supports sustained STEM education by appropriating funds to establish robotics as an interscholastic sport.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Technology that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2534, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Technology,

____________________________

GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair