STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2946

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2875

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. 2875 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to address the State's teacher shortage, promote teacher retention, and support international exchange efforts by easing administrative burdens on qualified visiting international educators who teach in Hawaii's public schools.

More specifically, the measure requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit that:

(1) Authorizes a visiting international educator to teach all subjects and grade levels for which the educator is qualified; and

(2) Remains valid for a duration aligned with the educator's J-1 program, including J-1 visa extensions.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, State Health Planning and Development Agency, The Legal Clinic, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, Roots Reborn Maui, and five individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State's schools benefit from stability when qualified teachers are employed and retained. This is especially true for hard-to-staff schools. Teachers working in Hawaii under the J-1 visa program are fully qualified, licensed professionals in their home countries and often serve as core instructional staff in the State's public schools. However, your Committee recognizes that traditional state licensing exams can be expensive and time consuming and can make it difficult for J-1 educators to qualify for visa extensions. Creating an alternative licensing pathway to allow J-1 teachers to serve the full authorized term of their visa will help to improve teacher retention, strengthen workforce stability, and ensure that Hawaii's students receive the greatest benefit from these experienced educators.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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. 2875, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2875, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair