STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2736

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2550

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2550, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL MODERNIZATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to improve efficiency and effectiveness of certain capital improvement program expenditures.

Specifically, this measure establishes the school modernization initiative to collect data and identify, assess, and prioritize school facilities projects using a classification system.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the School Facilities Authority, Autism Moms of Kona, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee finds that there is currently no data-based process for determining how and why Department of Education capital improvement projects are funded and prioritized. This measure would address this gap by creating an industry standard facilities assessment framework and inventory that will help the State efficiently and effectively spend capital improvement program appropriations.

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. 2550, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair