HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Rep. Justin H. Woodson, Chair |
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Rep. Trish La Chica, Vice Chair |
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Rep. Terez Amato |
Rep. Darius K. Kila |
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Rep. Luke A. Evslin |
Rep. Ikaika Olds |
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Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett |
Rep. Christopher L. Muraoka |
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Rep. Jeanne Kapela |
Rep. Kanani Souza |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 |
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TIME: |
2:15 p.m. |
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PLACE: |
VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 309 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
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A G E N D A
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RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. Authorizes the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to establish the Shade and Fruit Tree Program to support educational activities and encourage propagation of native shade trees and fruit trees for planting in Department of Education schools.
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EDN, WAL, FIN |
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RELATING TO CLIMATE EDUCATION. Requires the Department of Education to establish a climate literacy certificate program to provide students with an advanced understanding of climate change through academic coursework and hands-on learning.
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EDN, FIN |
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PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES VIII AND X OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATURE TO ESTABLISH A SURCHARGE ON RESIDENTIAL INVESTMENT PROPERTY TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. Proposes amendments to the Hawaii State Constitution to repeal the counties' exclusive power to tax real property, and to authorize the Legislature to establish a state surcharge on real property taxes levied by the counties on certain residential investment properties, for the purpose of helping to fund public education for all of Hawaii's children and adults.
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EDN, JHA, FIN |
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RELATING TO TAXATION. Establishes a general excise tax holiday on school supplies, provided that businesses pass the savings on to consumers.
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EDN, ECD, FIN |
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RELATING TO HOUSING. Requires the Department of Education to give reasonable consideration to making all or portions of the facilities of a public school available to housing development for certain employees of the Department when closing the public school. Requires the Department of Education to identify unused public school facilities that may be appropriate for employee housing and inventory suitable grounds available upon public school closure for potential development of employee housing.
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EDN, HSG, FIN |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL LICENSURE. Transfers the licensing authority of private trade, vocational, and technical schools from the Department of Education to the University of Hawaii.
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EDN, HED, CPC |
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RELATING TO STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES. Authorizes the inclusion of language addressing individualized accommodations and supports during emergency situations and evacuations in individualized education programs for students with disabilities. Requires support and guidance from the Department of Education.
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EDN, PBS, JHA |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS. Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requires public charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to provide free meals to students whose family income is no more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. Appropriates funds.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS. Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all Department of Education students regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS. Reduces the minimum revenue requirement that the Department of Education must recover through school meal charges in department schools.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT. Adjusts the applicability of Act 134, SLH 2025, to clarify the threshold for Department of Education procurement of local edible produce and packaged food products. Sunsets 6/30/2028.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE HARM TO STUDENTS REGISTRY. Clarifies the scope of the Department of Education's harm-to-students registry by providing that contractors and volunteers are included only if their roles involves close contact with students, and by excluding K-12 students.
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EDN, JHA |
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RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE. Requires the Board of Education to adopt a heat acclimatization and practice policy based on the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association's Hawaii High School Athletic Association Heat Acclimatization and Practice Policy of 2017 for students in grades kindergarten to twelve in Department of Education schools and public charter schools statewide for certain physical activities. Appropriates funds.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program. Repeals 6/30/2031.
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EDN, CPC |
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RELATING TO PUBLIC SCHOOL LAND TRANSFER. Amends section 2 of Act 307, SLH 2022, to revise tax map key numbers and the conveyance process by which identified properties are to be conveyed to the Department of Education pursuant to Act 307.
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EDN, WAL, FIN |
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DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW
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FOR AMENDED NOTICES: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.
For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-6345.
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________________________________________ Rep. Justin H. Woodson Chair |
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