STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1633-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 183

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.C.R. No. 183 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP, ADOPT, AND IMPLEMENT A STANDARDIZED EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN GOVERNING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AT OR WITHIN ONE THOUSAND FEET OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ADOPT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO ADDRESS IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AT CERTAIN SCHOOL-RELATED LOCATIONS AND EVENTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Education to develop, adopt, and implement a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity at or within one thousand feet of public schools and adopt policies and procedures to address immigration enforcement activity at certain school-related locations and events.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Board of Education and Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that under long-standing federal policy, the United States Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security designated schools, churches, hospitals, and other sensitive locations as places where immigration enforcement action was prohibited; however, the current presidential administration has weakened or eliminated these protections. Your Committee further finds that there was a recent incident in which a student at Konawaena Elementary School in Kona was removed from campus by a school official and turned over to federal authorities. Your Committee further finds that while public schools must comply with applicable law, the Department of Education has a responsibility to ensure that school personnel are guided by clear protocols that prioritize student safety. This measure seeks to protect Hawaii's students by requesting the Department of Education to develop a standardized emergency response plan governing immigration enforcement activity.

Your Committee recognizes that the standardized response plan urged by this measure includes immigration enforcement activity within one thousand feet of public schools. Your Committee notes the concerns raised by the Board of Education regarding the Department of Education's lack of jurisdiction over areas that are within one thousand feet of school campuses but outside of school property.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 183 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Education.

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

____________________________

GREGGOR ILAGAN, Chair