EDITOR'S NOTE: While this list is extensive, it is not complete and will continue to be updated. Know of any legislation that's not on this list? Let us know here.
February
- House Bill 483 would extend the deadline for Hawaii's Legislative Research Bureau to draft a report that would serve as the foundation for how to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. This would mean a delay of the implementation of the state's version of the federal Title IX law, which was initially supposed to go into effect in January 2020.
- Two Senate bills, SB112 and SB114, would set up a housing voucher program for full-time teachers who either work for the state Department of Education or in a public charter school.
- A House bill also looks to help teachers with their expenses. House Bill 726 would create an up to $500 state income tax credit for P-12 teachers, as well as special ed teachers, principals, school librarians, counselors and aids who work more than 900 hours per academic year. The money would help them in paying for school supplies and other supplementary resources.
- One school building in each county in Hawaii would be retrofitted to be able to handle a Category 3 hurricane, as well as to serve as a disaster relief shelter, under House Bill 457.
- Another House bill's focus is on shielding student journalists from school censorship. School administrators, under the proposal, wouldn't be allowed to use prior restraint when it comes to material for school-sponsored media.
- An additional Senate bill would require students to learn CPR before they graduate high school.
January
- Hawaii, whose state legislative session began Jan. 16, is seeking to provide more funding and support for public education.
