HB1889 • 2026

RELATING TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.

Education

Active

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

Sponsor: WOODSON, AMATO, BELATTI, CHUN, EVSLIN, GARRETT, GEDEON, ILAGAN, IWAMOTO, KAPELA, KILA, KUSCH, LEE, M., LOWEN, MARTEN, OLDS, PERRUSO, PIERICK, POEPOE, QUINLAN, REYES ODA, SOUZA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS, TODD
Last action: 2026-03-23
Official status: The committee on EDU deferred the measure.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary does not provide details on specific membership rules, only that certain individuals must be invited to join.

Creating a Working Group for School Psychologists

This bill creates a working group within the Department of Education to recommend steps for licensing school psychologists in Hawaii by 1 July 2027.

What This Bill Does

Creates a School Psychologists Working Group inside the Department of Education.
The group will suggest ways to license school psychologists quickly.
Requires the group to submit a report with their findings and recommendations before the start of the regular session in 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Education
School psychologists in Hawaii

Terms To Know

Licensure: A process that allows professionals to work legally after meeting certain requirements set by the government.
Working Group: A team of people brought together to solve a specific problem or create recommendations.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many school psychologists are currently working in Hawaii.
It is unclear what the exact steps will be for licensing school psychologists once the group makes their recommendations.
The bill has not yet been passed into law and is still under consideration.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment creates a working group within the Department of Education to recommend steps towards licensing school psychologists in Hawaii by 2027.

Establishes a School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education.
Specifies that the working group will consist of representatives from various state agencies and professional organizations.
Requires the working group to submit a report with recommendations and proposed legislation to the legislature by early 2027.

The amendment does not specify what exact steps or requirements for licensing school psychologists will be recommended, as this is left to the discretion of the working group.
The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) appears to be a placeholder and likely needs correction.

Bill History

2026-03-23 S
The committee on EDU deferred the measure.
2026-03-18 S
The committee(s) on EDU deferred the measure until 03-23-26 1:10PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-16 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-18-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDU, WAM.
2026-03-10 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 162).
2026-03-06 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 982-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-26 H
The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Lowen, Tam; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Iwamoto, Marten, Pierick.
2026-02-24 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by CPC on Thursday, 02-26-26 2:00PM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 697-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to CPC.
2026-02-19 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, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Thursday, 02-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to EDN, CPC, referral sheet 2
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS.
DOE; School Psychologists; Working Group; Report
Creates a School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to recommend actionable steps or propose legislation for an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2027. Requires a report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1889

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1889

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that properly
licensed school psychologists provide effective services to help children and
youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally by
providing direct educational and mental health services, as well as working
with parents, educators, and other professionals to create supportive learning
and social environments for all children.

����
The
legislature further finds that Hawaii is the only state without certification
or licensure for school psychologists.
�
A
dialogue on how to create a pathway for the licensure of school psychologists
is needed to ensure that functioning school psychologists are properly
qualified and delivering appropriate services.

����
Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to create a school psychologists working group
within the department of education to recommend actionable steps or propose
legislation to the legislature on an immediate pathway to licensure for school
psychologists in 2027.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�

There is established within the department of education a school
psychologists working group to recommend actionable steps for, or propose
legislation on, an immediate pathway to licensure for school psychologists that
can be acted upon in 2027.

����
(b)
�
The working group shall consist of the
following persons or their designee:

����
(1)
�
The superintendent of education;

����
(2)
�
The director of commerce and consumer affairs;
and

����
(3)
�
The attorney general.

����
(c)
�
The working group shall select a chairperson
from among the members listed in subsection (b).

����
(d)
�
The chairperson shall invite the following
individuals to become members of the working group:

����
(1)
�
A representative from the Hawaii Association
of School Psychologists;

����
(2)
�
The Hawaii delegate for the National
Association of School Psychologists;

����
(3)
�
A representative from the Board of Psychology;
and

����
(4)
�
Any other individuals, including
representatives from state agencies, stakeholders, or advocates, as recommended
by a majority of the working group.

����
(e)
�
Members of the working group shall serve
without compensation but shall be reimbursed for expenses, including travel
expenses, necessary for the performance of their duties.

����
(f)
�
The working group shall submit a report of
its findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation to the legislature
no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

����
(g)
�
The working group shall cease to exist on
July 31, 2027.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE;
School Psychologists; Working Group; Report

Description:

Creates a
School Psychologists Working Group within the Department of Education to
recommend actionable steps or propose legislation for an immediate pathway to
licensure for school psychologists that can be acted upon in 2027.
�
Requires a report to the Legislature.

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