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 17, 2026 |
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TIME: |
2:00 p.m. |
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PLACE: |
VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE Conference Room 309 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.
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Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.
A G E N D A
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RELATING TO LIBRARIES. Requires the State Librarian to establish an Imagination Library of Hawaii Program to provide one free book each month to children from birth through five years of age who reside in the State. Appropriates funds.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Extends the Librarian Pilot Program established by Act 135, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, through 2030. Authorizes the Department of Education to select a second school complex on Oahu to be part of the pilot program if no appropriate school complex on the neighbor islands can be identified.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO LIBRARIES. Clarifies that the Board of Education, through the State Librarian, has exclusive authority over the development, use, support, and improvement and maintenance of public library system facilities. Authorizes the Board of Education to delegate to the State Librarian exclusive control of certain land for development or expansion purposes, subject to legislative appropriation. Requires the Department of Education to expeditiously cooperate with the State Librarian and Hawaii State Public Library System to effectuate any project authorized by the Board of Education on certain lands.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO THE MUSIC ACCESSIBILITY PILOT PROGRAM. Establishes the Music Accessibility Pilot Program within the Hawaii State Public Library System to expand access to public concerts and musical education throughout the State. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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CAA, EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO LICENSING OF ELECTRONIC LITERARY MATERIAL. Establishes limits and restrictions on licensing contracts between libraries and publishers for electronic literary materials and provides options for remedy. Suspends enforcement until at least one other state enacts a similar law.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires home schooled students to participate in certain annual in person tests at the public school that the student would otherwise be required to attend.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION EQUITY. Requires the Department of Education to permit the participation of eligible homeschooled students in public high school extracurricular activities, subject to certain requirements and limitations.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires the Department of Education to implement dyslexia sensitive linguistically appropriate universal screenings and evidence-based interventions, offer professional development on structured literacy and evidenced-based interventions, and support pre-teacher programs in training candidates in structured literacy instruction. Appropriates funds.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires the Department of Education to include the instruction of braille and provision of braille instructional materials under certain circumstances; provide braille literacy support services; cooperate with the Department of Human Services when requested to submit information necessary to maintain a register of the blind in the State; provide comprehensive information about braille literacy services, assistive technology devices, and assistive technology services, including educational programming options; and participate in the development of section 504 plans and individualized education programs.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO COMMUNITY SCHOOLS. Appropriates funds to the Department of Education to support community schools.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Establishes the Early Childhood Education Investment Special Fund. Appropriates funds.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING. Appropriates funds to the State Public Charter School Commission for prekindergarten-only public charter schools.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. Transfers school impact fees from the Kalihi-Ala Moana school impact district to the School Impact Fees subaccount of the School Facilities Special Fund for the acquisition and renovation of one or more buildings in the downtown Honolulu area to develop and expand pre-kindergarten and charter school capacity.
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EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS. Provides funding for rental or lease of facilities under legislative appropriations and bond authorizations to the state public charter school commission for the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter school improvements. Appropriates general funds for infrastructure costs, rental or lease assistance, and the repair and maintenance of network infrastructure for charter schools.
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EDN, 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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