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 |
NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
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TIME: |
1:00 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 G E N D A
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RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT OF RETIRANTS. Establishes a 5-year pilot program to authorize the Department of Education to rehire retired teachers and educational officers for hard-to-staff positions. Repeals 6/30/2031. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. Authorizes the Department of Education to hire a new contractor if a contractor under a student transportation contract fails to provide service on a contracted route for five or more consecutive instructional days. Authorizes the use of the school bus fare revolving fund to offset costs associated with procuring replacement services. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION. Requires the Department of Education to establish a student bus fare rate system that includes free bus passes for students who meet certain statutory requirements. Requires reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM. Establishes an Early Learning Apprenticeship Grant Program to be administered by the University of Hawaii to provide financial support for early learning program service providers in the State to participate in state- or federally-approved early learning apprenticeship programs. Requires an annual report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS. Creates a School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to recommend actionable steps or propose legislation for an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2027. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO EDUCATION. Clarifies that public charter school teachers are eligible for incentives under the Teacher National Board Certification Incentive Program. Increases the bonuses per year for each public school teacher and public charter school teacher who maintains current national board certification. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)
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EDU, WAM |
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RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. Establishes a temporary, independent Public School Realignment and Closure Commission to develop and recommend a comprehensive package of school consolidations, realignments, and closures based on the federal Base Realignment and Closure model. Requires an expedited approval process by the Governor and Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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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. Prohibits the artificial division and parceling of Department of Education procurements of local edible produce and packaged food products. Sunsets 6/30/2028. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
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EDU, WAM |
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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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