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HB1445 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Budget Education
Active

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

Sponsor
MATSUMOTO, COCHRAN, GARCIA, KILA, KUSCH, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, OLDS, PIERICK, QUINLAN, SHIMIZU, WARD
Last action
2025-12-08
Official status
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

School Safety Improvements

This bill requires schools to install safety equipment, create emergency plans, conduct regular drills, and provides funding.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires all classroom doors to have locks by January 1, 2027.
  • Mandates public address systems in classrooms and outside gathering spaces by January 1, 2027.
  • Requiress schools to have emergency access routes with multiple entrances and exits by January 1, 2027.
  • Requires functioning fire alarms in all classrooms and outside areas by January 1, 2027.
  • Establishes yearly emergency management plans for each school.

Who It Names or Affects

  • All schools in Hawaii
  • Teachers, students, and staff at these schools

Terms To Know

Emergency Management Plan
A plan that helps schools prepare for and respond to emergencies or disasters.
Public Address System
An audio system used in buildings, like schools, to make announcements.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how much funding will be provided.
  • It is unclear if all schools can meet the January 1, 2027 deadlines for safety equipment installation.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-27 H

    Referred to EDN, PBS, FIN, referral sheet 4

  3. 2025-01-23 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
Education; School Safety; Emergency Preparedness; Appropriation ($)
Requires the department of education to equip all classroom doors with interior locks, maintain a public address system, feature an emergency access route, and maintain fire alarms. Mandates the establishment of school emergency plans. Requires schools conduct regular testing and emergency preparedness drills. Appropriates funds.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB1445

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1445

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to education
.

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

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

����
"
�302A-
�
Emergency preparedness; safety and
security.
�
To ensure the
safety of students, teachers, and school staff:

����
(1)
�
All classroom
doors shall be retrofitted with an interior lock by January 1, 2027;

����
(2)
�
All classrooms
and outside gathering spaces shall be connected to a public address system that
is independent of the school's phone system by January 1, 2027;

����
(3)
�
All schools
shall be equipped with an emergency access route which features more than one
entrance and exit by January 1, 2027; and

����
(4)
�
All classrooms
and outside gathering spaces shall feature functioning fire alarms with both an
auditory and visual component by January 1, 2027.
"

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

����
"
�
302A-
�
��
Emergency
management plan; emergency preparedness.
�
(a)
�

The department

shall
establish an emergency management plan for all schools to prepare for and
respond to an emergency or disaster, as defined in section 127A-2.
�
Emergency management plans shall be updated
on a yearly basis and shall include:

����
(1)
�
Mandatory
emergency preparedness training for all teachers, students, and school staff
that includes:

���������
(A)
�
Annual
training for all teachers and staff on violence prevention, awareness,
reporting, and emergency response conducted in conjunction with law enforcement
and aligned with best practices;

���������
(B)
�
Annual,
age-appropriate training for all students on violence prevention, awareness,
reporting, and emergency response that is aligned with established best
practices;

���������
(C)
�
Teacher,
staff, and student training on the protocol for initiating an emergency
response;

���������
(D)
�
Teacher,
staff, and student training on a standardized emergency response protocol; and

���������
(E)
�
Basic
safety training such as first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation for all
teachers and security personnel; and

���������
(F)
�
Parent
and guardian access to relevant information regarding emergency response plans;
and

����
(2)
�
At least four
emergency practice drills per year at each school, two of which shall occur
during inopportune times of the school day such as recess or during a school
assembly, to address the following emergency situations:

���������
(A)
�
Lock
down;

���������
(B)
�
Fire;

���������
(C)
�
Severe
weather; and

���������
(D)
�
Active
shooter.

����
(b)
�
Each school shall
regularly test their public address system and fire alarms, no less than once
every three months.
"

����
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 implementation of emergency
preparedness procedures, training, equipment, and retrofitting.

����
The sum appropriated shall be
expended by the department of education 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:

Education;
School Safety; Emergency Preparedness; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the department of education to equip all classroom doors with interior locks,
maintain a public address system, feature an emergency access route, and maintain
fire alarms.
�
Mandates the establishment
of school emergency plans.
�
Requires
schools conduct regular testing and emergency preparedness drills.
�
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.