HB1188 • 2026

RELATING TO TEACHER WORKFORCE HOUSING.

Budget Education Housing

Active

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

Sponsor: KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, AMATO, EVSLIN, GARRETT, GRANDINETTI, KILA, MIYAKE, OLDS, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA
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 funds appropriated beyond stating it will be funded by state general revenues.

Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program

This bill establishes a program to provide financial assistance to teachers working in rural or underserved areas, aiming to improve teacher retention.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program for teachers working in public or charter schools classified as rural or underserved.
Provides $1,000 per month to eligible teachers who do not own a home within commuting distance of the school.
Requires recipients to commit to teaching at their designated school for three years after receiving the stipend.
Requires annual reports from the Department of Education on the program's effectiveness and any proposed changes.
Funds the program with state general revenues.

Who It Names or Affects

Teachers working in rural or underserved areas who do not own a home within commuting distance of their school.
The Department of Education, which will administer the program and submit reports to the Legislature.

Terms To Know

Stipend: A small amount of money given regularly as an allowance or grant.
Underserved area: An area that lacks adequate services, facilities, and resources to meet the needs of its population.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many teachers will be eligible for the stipend.
It is unclear if there are enough funds available in future fiscal years to continue supporting the program.
The effectiveness and long-term impact of the program on teacher retention have yet to be determined.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: The amendment establishes a teacher workforce housing stipend program to support teachers in hard-to-staff areas by providing financial assistance for housing.

Establishes a new section in Chapter 302A of the Hawaii Revised Statutes to create a teacher workforce housing stipend program.
Sets eligibility criteria for the stipend, requiring individuals to be employed full-time at hard-to-staff schools and not own a residence.
Specifies that recipients must use the stipend only for rent or utilities and commit to teaching in designated areas for three years.
Establishes a revolving fund to manage the program's finances and allows the department to accept federal funds.

The exact amount of the monthly stipend is not specified in the amendment text.
Details on repayment terms, including potential deferment or forgiveness due to hardship, are left to be determined by the department through rules adopted under chapter 91.

HD2

Hawaii published version HD2

Plain English: This amendment establishes a teacher workforce housing stipend program to help teachers afford housing in areas with hard-to-staff schools.

Creates a new section in Hawaii Revised Statutes allowing the Department of Education to administer a housing stipend program for teachers working in designated hard-to-staff areas.
Sets eligibility criteria for the stipend, requiring full-time employment and lack of home ownership.
Specifies that recipients must commit to teaching at a hard-to-staff school for three years after receiving the stipend.
Establishes a revolving fund to manage the program's finances and allows the Department to accept federal funds.

The exact amount of the monthly stipend is not specified in the amendment text.
Details on repayment terms, including potential deferment or forgiveness conditions, are left for future rulemaking by the department.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-14 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Matayoshi, Poepoe, Ward excused (4).
2025-02-14 H
Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 764) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
2025-02-12 H
The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.
2025-02-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 02-12-25 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-02-05 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSG with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
2025-02-05 H
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 173) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSG.
2025-01-30 H
The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela.
2025-01-28 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Thursday, 01-30-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-27 H
Referred to EDN, HSG, FIN, referral sheet 4
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-22 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO TEACHER WORKFORCE HOUSING.
DOE; Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program; Workforce Housing; Reports; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation ($)
Establishes a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program to support teacher retention at public and charter schools classified as hard-to-staff. Requires reports to the Legislature. Amends the purpose and uses of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1188

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1188

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to teacher workforce housing
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that teachers are fundamental to shaping the future of Hawai
ʻ
i's
keiki and communities.
�
However, rural
and underserved areas of the State still face significant challenges in
attracting and retaining qualified educators due to limited affordable housing
options and the State's high cost of living.

����
The legislature further finds that
challenges with teacher retention have resulted in a growing reliance on
emergency hires and long-term substitutes, which can negatively affect the
quality of education for students and place additional financial strain on the
department of education.
�
Addressing
teacher retention is critical to reducing educational disparities and ensuring
equitable access to high-quality learning opportunities for all students in
public and charter schools.

����
The legislature therefore finds that
providing financial assistance for housing through a teacher workforce housing
stipend program would support teacher retention in rural and underserved
communities.
�
Additionally, a stipend
program would help alleviate economic burdens and encourage educators to make
long-term commitments to teaching in rural and underserved communities.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
establish a teacher workforce housing stipend program to strengthen the
teaching profession, support educational equity, and invest in the success of
Hawai
ʻ
i's students and schools.

����
SECTION
2.
�
Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart E, to be
appropriately designated and to read as follows:

����
"
�302A-
�
Teacher workforce housing; stipend program;
rural and underserved schools.
�
(a)
�
There is established a teacher workforce
housing stipend program to be administered by the department to support teacher
retention at any public school designated as rural or in an underserved area.
�

����
(b)
�
An individual shall be
eligible for stipend consideration if the individual:

����
(1)
�
Is employed full-time by the
department in a public or charter school in an area designated as rural or
underserved; and

����
(2)
�
Does not own a residence within
commuting distance from the school at which they are employed.

����
(c)
�
Stipend recipients shall receive $1,000 per
month; provided that stipends awarded shall only be used only for rent or
utilities.
�
Recipients of the teacher
workforce housing stipend shall submit annual documentation verifying the usage
of the stipend for housing purposes pursuant to this subsection.

����
(d)
�
Immediately following an award of a stipend,
the recipient shall commit to teaching at a school in an area designated as
rural or underserved for a minimum of three years.
�
A stipend recipient may continue to receive a
stipend pursuant to this section following the completion of the designated
number of years; provided that the recipient continues to meet eligibility
requirements pursuant to subsection (b).

����
(e)
�
If the recipient fails to satisfy the work
requirements in accordance with subsection (d), the recipient shall repay the
total amount of the stipend funds received as a loan repayable to the
department.
�
The repayment shall be
subject to the terms and conditions set by the department.

����
(f)
�
The department shall
submit
a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed
legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session for every odd-numbered year, beginning with the
regular session of
2027.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
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
establishment and administration of the teacher workforce housing stipend
program established pursuant to section 2 of this Act.

����
The
sums

appropriated shall be expended
by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION
4.
�
New statutory material is
underscored.

����
SECTION
5.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1,
2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE;
Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program; Workforce Housing; Reports; Appropriations

Description:

Establishes
a Teacher Workforce Housing Stipend Program to support teacher retention at public
and charter schools classified as rural and underserved.
�
Requires reports to the Legislature.
�
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.