STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3000

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2024

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2024, S.D. 1, 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 support the efficient development of new school facilities, especially in areas experiencing population growth.

Specifically, this measure:

(1) Authorizes the School Facilities Authority to enter into partnerships for the development of public charter school facilities and other projects on privately-owned land;

(2) Requires the School Facilities Authority to enter into public-private partnerships to develop three new public schools through a pilot program;

(3) Requires the School Facilities Authority to submit reports on the progress of the pilot program to the Legislature; and

(4) Appropriates moneys for the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the School Facilities Authority, Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission, and HawaiiKidsCAN.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from United Public Workers.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that public schools and public charter schools continue to encounter challenges in acquiring necessary school facilities. In some cases, school enrollment growth is outpacing the State's ability to expedite construction timelines. Your Committee believes that the public-private partnerships and pilot program supported by this measure will help alleviate these concerns and will allow the State's public schools and public charter schools to develop quality school environments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount appropriated to an unspecified sum; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2024, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2024, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair