STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2582

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3118

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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 3118 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to update references to the United States Code in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of Defense; Department of Education; and Military and Community Relations Office of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Your Committee finds that the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is a historic agreement designed to remove barriers to educational success for military-connected students, which has been adopted by all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense Education Activity. Its effectiveness relies on uniformity across all jurisdictions. It is therefore critical for the State's laws to remain aligned with the national model, including matching its scope to reference active duty servicemembers, reserves, and guard personnel. This measure updates language to secure the State's full compliance with the Interstate Compact and establish a clear, consistent reference for local military families.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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. 3118, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3118, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair