STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1288-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2391

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2391, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide:

(1) Annual salary step increases for public school teachers, including public charter school teachers, who have completed one year's satisfactory service and complied with specified requirements; and

(2) Longevity step increases for public school teachers, including public charter school teachers, who have completed three year's satisfactory service and complied with specified requirements,

if negotiated into a collective bargaining agreement and subject to the availability of funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; and seven individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Office of Collective Bargaining. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and United Public Workers, AFSCME Local 646, AFL-CIO.

Your Committee finds that recruiting and retaining qualified teachers is vital for Hawaii's public education. Your Committee further finds that competitive salaries and annual salary and longevity step increases are necessary to attract and retain skilled educators and reduce teacher shortages in the State.

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. 2391, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Labor.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair