STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2341

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2875

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. 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 require the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop a temporary alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program, which would repeal on June 30, 2031.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, The Legal Clinic, and one individual.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaiʻi Teacher Standards Board and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State is facing a persistent teacher shortage, particularly in hard-to-staff schools and high-need subject areas. In an effort to fill this gap, the State allows unlicensed teachers from out-of-state or overseas to teach in the State for a maximum of three years. Currently, international teachers must leave the State after the three-year period, despite the federal J-1 teacher exchange visitor visa allowing an international teacher to remain in the United States for up to five years. This results in a lost opportunity for the State to retain the benefit of an international teacher filling a short-staffed position for an additional two years. This measure would enable the State to create a pathway for international teachers to remain in the State for the full five years permitted under the J-1 visa, which would help strengthen the educational community for students and teachers 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. 2875 and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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