3 days ago
Gov. Josh Green signs multiple education-focused bills
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Gov. Josh Green signed five bills aiming to strengthen educational opportunities and student success across the island on May 30.
'This group of bills represents our state's active commitment to finding real solutions and protecting the fundamental right every keiki has to quality education,' Green said. 'Thanks to the critical work of educators and students alike, as well as countless community advocates, our state is poised to reduce childhood food insecurity and increase access to academic and extracurricular educational opportunities.'
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The new laws are as follows:
SB 1300: Expanding Access to Free School Meals
This bill increases access to free school meals for qualifying students, with the bill taking effect in the 2025-2026 academic year, with further expansions to free meals the following year.
In addition to expanded meal access, the new law also prohibits schools from denying a meal to a student who is unable to pay.
'Senate Bill 1300 removes the financial barrier to accessing school meals, supporting students' health and well-being, as wel as their academic and developmental success,' First Lady Jaime Kanani Green said. 'If students aren't hungry, they can better focus on their studies, extracurricular activities and personal growth.'
The bill was brought forward by Senate Vice President Michelle Kidani, who served as the lead 862: Addressing School Bus Shortages
Multiple school bus routes were suspended this past academic year due to a nationwide bus driver shortage. This bill reverses the suspensions and allows for alternative vehicles, such as small buses, vans and more, to pick up students and bring them to school.
'Hawaiʻi continues to face a schoo bus crisis, and we've heard from countless parents, families and educators about the urgent need to expand transportation options, while keeping safety front and center,' said House Committee on Education Vice Chair Trish La Chica. 'This new law paves the way for our students to thrive, by expanding the department's options to secure reliable transportation and ensuring that transportation barriers don't stand in the way of our keiki and their opportunities to succeed.'
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HB 133: Funding for Interscholastic Surfing Programs
This bill appropriates over $685,800 for 2026 and 2027 to help establish interscholastic surfing programs, providing students with a competitive outlet they may otherwise not have.
'Hawaiʻi is the birthplace of surfing, and that's something we should take great pride in. By recognizing surfing as an interscholastic sport, we are expanding access in Hawaiʻi schools — allowing students to build ocean safety skills, connect with our cultural heritage and participate in a sport that has produced champions from our own shores,' Rep. Sean Quinlan, who introduced the bill, said.
Two other bills were signed, including HB 110: Relating to Local Agricultural Products, which updates goas and timelines for locally-sourced meals can be provided by the Department of Education to students.
The last bill signed was HB 1170: Relating to the University of Hawaiʻi Resident Tuition Fee, which requires UH to provide resident tuition fees to individuals who graduated from high schools in the islands, are enrolling in an undergraduate program and meet other conditions.
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