KA ‘AHA KENEKOA
THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2026
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Senator Donna Mercado Kim, Chair |
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Senator Michelle N. Kidani, Vice Chair |
AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
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TIME: |
1:02 PM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 229 & Videoconference State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
PHOTO ID REQUIRED FOR ENTRANCE TO THE STATE CAPITOL
BUILDING HOURS: 7AM TO 5PM, MONDAY - FRIDAY
The Legislature is accepting written, videoconference, and in-person testimony at public hearings.
A live stream of all Senate Standing Committee meetings will be available on the Senate YouTube Channel.
A M E N D E D A G E N D A
The following five bills (SB3286, SB2802, SB3050, SB3238, SB3062) were originally scheduled to be heard on Monday, February 9, 2026, but due to the severe weather event over the weekend, the hearing was cancelled. All testimony previously submitted will be available to the committee and posted on the Legislature's website prior to the hearing and therefore, does not need to be resubmitted. New testimony will be accepted.
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RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII. Requires the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan. Requires reports to the Legislature.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII. Appropriates moneys to establish bachelor's degree programs in education and in agricultural science at Leeward Community College and to fund 2 FTE positions and supplies to support the programs.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO A MARITIME YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP PATHWAY PROGRAM. Directs Honolulu Community College, in partnership with state agencies and maritime employers, to conduct a study and develop a plan for a statewide Maritime Youth Apprenticeship Program for individuals ages 16 to 24. Requires a report to the Legislature with recommendations on program structure, resource needs, proposed legislation and implementation options. Appropriates moneys.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO LANGUAGE ACCESS. Establishes a language access education and workforce development program at the University of Hawaii. Appropriates moneys.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO LIQUOR. Provides that the University of Hawaii and its campuses and state libraries may utilize liquor in certain educational settings without obtaining liquor licenses, subject to certain limitations.
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EDU, CPN |
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RELATING TO SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION. Clarifies and strengthens the State's protections against sex-based harassment, sex discrimination, and retaliation that occur in public schools, public charter schools, or at the University of Hawaii, including discrimination based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related conditions. Establishes procedures for investigations and decision-making. Requires mandatory reporting by certain employees.
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EDU, JDC/WAM |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires the Department of Education to submit annual reports to the Legislature outlining certain information concerning capital improvement projects and facilities. Requires the reports to be posted on DOE's website annually in a searchable format. Provides that any CIP funds encumbered for more than five years without commencement of construction shall be specifically identified and justified, or shall be subject to legislative review for reversion or reassignment. Establishes a five-year pilot program authorizing the Superintendent of Education to redesignate funded, vacant positions in the Office of Facilities and Operations as positions exempt from Hawaii's Civil Service Laws for the purpose of hiring qualified professionals. (SD1)
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EDU |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Establishes new requirements for teacher-led kindergarten assessments in public and charter schools. Authorizes the Board of Education to adopt rules. Repeals certain requirements for the Department of Education and State Public Charter School Commission to share data with the Department of Human Services. (SD1)
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EDU |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Requires that the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board submit three nominees for its Executive Director to the Board of Education. Requires the Board of Education to appoint an Executive Director from the nominees on the list, subject to advice and consent of the Senate.
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EDU, JDC |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish geographically based capital improvement project districts for the localized management of deferred maintenance. Transfers all deferred maintenance functions, funds, and vacant facilities development branch positions from the Department of Education to the School Facilities Authority as intended and contemplated in Act 72, SLH 2020. Appropriates funds.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL MODERNIZATION. Requires the School Facilities Authority to establish a school modernization initiative through a capital improvement project planning database for school facilities statewide. Appropriates funds.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE FUNDING FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES. Establishes the preventive maintenance special fund under the Department of Education to be used exclusively for preventive maintenance of public school facilities. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates moneys.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. Requires the Department of Education to make available all public school outdoor facilities and grounds on Saturdays and Sundays for public and community use without the need for any license, permit, or deposit of fees, under certain conditions. Requires reports to the Legislature. Repeals on 6/30/2030.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO HEALTH. Requires Huli Au Ola to conduct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention to serve the island of Molokai. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2026.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO FINANCIAL LITERACY. Requires the Department of Education to implement financial literacy instruction into existing courses in public high schools that have sufficient overlap with financial literacy program standards beginning in the 2027-2028 school year. Requires the Board of Education to provide professional development to teachers. Allows the Board of Education to adopt rules. Appropriates funds.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Updates Hawaii's statutory framework for adult and community education programs to ensure alignment with federal funding requirements and current best practices in those programs.
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO THE INTERSTATE COMPACT ON EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR MILITARY CHILDREN. Updates references to the United States Code in the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
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EDU, JDC [Measure added on 02-18-2026] |
Decision Making to follow, if time permits.
All testimony received by the Hawai‘i Senate is posted on the Hawai‘i Legislature's website, which is accessible to the public. Please do not include private information that you do not want disclosed to the public.
Please go to the Legislature's website, https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov, to submit written testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Create a free account on the website, or sign in to an existing account, then click on the "Participate" drop down menu and select the "Submit Testimony" option to get started. While submitting your written testimony, you will be prompted to indicate if you would also like to testify at the hearing in-person or remotely via videoconference.
Please note the following:
· The number of oral testifiers and/or time allotted to each testifier may be limited by the Chair when necessary to adhere to the committee hearing schedule. We may not be able to accommodate everyone who requests to testify orally.
· Testifiers for this hearing will be limited to 1:00 minute each.
If you wish to testify via videoconference during the hearing, please review the detailed step-by-step instructions for testimony procedures before you submit your written testimony. Here's a direct link to the instructions: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/testimonyinstructions.pdf
For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. You can also visit their website at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par/.
For special assistance: The cable TV broadcast and/or live stream of this meeting will include closed captioning. If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation due to a disability, please call the committee clerk at the telephone number listed below or email EDUcommittee@capitol.hawaii.gov. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.
For amended notices: Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are underscored. If a measure is both underscored and stricken through, that measure has been deleted from the agenda.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 808-587-7200.
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_____________________________________ Senator Donna Mercado Kim Chair |
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