RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.

Budget Children

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: TAM, KAPELA, KILA, KITAGAWA, POEPOE
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Early Learning Book Program

This bill requires the Executive Office on Early Learning to establish an Imagination Library of Hawaii Program that provides one free book each month to children from birth through five years old who live in Hawaii.

What This Bill Does

Establishes an Imagination Library of Hawaii Program within the Executive Office on Early Learning.
Requires the program to provide one free book per month to eligible children.
Contracts with a nonprofit organization to implement the program and raise at least half of its funding.
Directs the nonprofit to promote local book-gifting programs, recruit community partners, and develop outreach strategies.
Allows the Executive Office on Early Learning to adopt rules necessary for implementing the program.

Who It Names or Affects

Children from birth through five years old who live in Hawaii will receive free books each month.
A nonprofit organization contracted by the Executive Office on Early Learning will implement and fundraise for the program.
Local communities and community partners may be involved in promoting and supporting local book-gifting programs.

Terms To Know

Eligible children: Children from birth through five years of age who reside in Hawaii.
National nonprofit foundation: A national organization that works with local entities to provide free, high-quality books each month to eligible children.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.
It is unclear how many children will participate in the program or what books will be provided.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 1
2025-01-16 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-13 H
Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EARLY LEARNING.
Executive Office on Early Learning; Imagination Library of Hawaii Program; Appropriation ($)
Requires the Executive Office on Early Learning 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.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB107

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

107

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to early learning
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

����
SECTION 1.
�
Chapter 302L, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as
follows:

����
"
�302L-
�
Imagination
library of Hawaii program; established.
�
(a)
�
The office shall establish an imagination
library of Hawaii program to provide one free book each month to eligible children.

����
(b)
�

The office shall contract with a nonprofit organization to implement the
program established pursuant to this section.
�

In implementing the imagination library of Hawaii program, the nonprofit
organization shall:

����
(1)
�
Provide an
amount of at least fifty per cent of the funds required to carry out the
program;

����
(2)
�
Promote the
statewide development of local book‑gifting programs;

����
(3)
�
Provide
outreach to local communities about developing local book-gifting programs in
those communities;

����
(4)
�
Recruit
community partners to assist in the implementation and administration of local
book‑gifting programs;

����
(5)
�
Advance and
strengthen local book-gifting programs to increase enrollment in the program;

����
(6)
�
Develop
community engagement related to local book-gifting programs; and

����
(7)
�
Enter into a
contract with a national nonprofit foundation to provide age-appropriate, high
quality books each month to eligible children at no cost.

����
(c)
�
The office may adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

����
(d)
�
As used in this section:

����
"Eligible children"
means children from birth through five years of age who reside in the State.

����
"National nonprofit
foundation" means a national nonprofit foundation that exists for the
purpose of working with local entities to identify and provide to eligible
children age-appropriate, high quality books each month to eligible children at
no cost to families.
"

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for
the implementation of the
imagination library of Hawaii program established by section 302L- ,
Hawaii Revised Statutes.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the
executive office on early learning for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Executive
Office on Early Learning; Imagination Library of Hawaii Program; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the Executive Office on Early Learning 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.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.