STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2219

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2024

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2024 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the School Facilities Authority to establish a pilot program to develop three new public schools in areas based on demonstrated need through public-private partnerships;

(2) Authorize the School Facilities Authority to use public‑private partnerships for the development of public school facilities, including facilities at public charter schools;

(3) Require reports to the Legislature; and

(4) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi School Facilities Authority, State Public Charter School Commission, HawaiiKidsCAN, Hawaiʻi Technology Academy, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, and five individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and one individual.

Your committee finds that the State faces some of the highest public school construction costs in the nation. While the School Facilities Authority was established to deliver public school facilities in a more timely and cost-effective manner, escalating costs, aging infrastructure, and slow traditional delivery timelines have made it increasingly difficult for the Authority to provide adequate educational facilities for students. Rapid community development and growth in some regions have led to overcrowding and extensive waitlists. Your Committee further finds that other jurisdictions, such as Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland, have successfully employed public-private partnerships to accelerate school delivery. Therefore, to address the need to explore new school facilities development approaches that are cost-effective, efficient, and accountable, this measure requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a temporary pilot program to measure efficacy in the development of three new public schools in areas based on demonstrated need through public-private partnerships.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 S.B. No. 2024, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2024, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair