HB2012 • 2026

RELATING TO COMMUNITY LITERACY LABS.

Budget Children Education Technology

Active

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

Sponsor: TEMPLO, AMATO, BELATTI, ILAGAN, KAHALOA, KUSCH, LEE, M., MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, OLDS, PIERICK, REYES ODA, SOUZA, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TARNAS
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide details about the exact amount of funding or the number of students expected to participate.

Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program

This bill establishes a two-year pilot program to create community literacy labs in underserved areas, funded by the state, aimed at improving early reading skills and family engagement.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program for students in underserved communities receiving federal Title I funding.
Requires the Department of Education (DOE) to set up at least five labs in different types of communities, including urban, rural, and small counties.
Allows DOE to partner with libraries, universities, community colleges, and other organizations to staff and run these literacy labs.
Funds the program through state money for staffing, materials, technology, facilities, outreach, and evaluation.
Requires interim and final reports on the pilot's progress and effectiveness before 2027 and 2028.

Who It Names or Affects

Students in underserved communities receiving federal Title I funding.
The Department of Education (DOE) and its partners, such as libraries and universities.
Families and community members who participate in literacy workshops and training.

Terms To Know

Title I: A federal program that provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure those children meet challenging state academic standards.
Community Literacy Lab: A place where students receive small-group or individualized reading instruction and other literacy support outside regular school hours.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of funding for the pilot program.
It is unclear how many students will participate in the program.
The effectiveness of the program may vary depending on community needs and resources available.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a two-year pilot program called Community Literacy Labs in at least five underserved communities across Hawaii, aimed at improving early literacy skills among students.

The amendment sets up a two-year pilot program to create community literacy labs in areas with high needs and low reading proficiency rates.
It requires the Department of Education to collaborate with other departments and community partners to implement these labs.
Community literacy labs will provide various services such as small-group or individualized reading instruction, family literacy workshops, and free books for home libraries.

The amendment does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated for the pilot program.
It is unclear how many students are expected to participate in the program.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: This amendment establishes a two-year pilot program called Community Literacy Labs in at least five underserved communities to improve early literacy and reading proficiency.

Adds requirements for the Department of Education to collaborate with other departments, community partners, and specific types of organizations to establish and implement the pilot program.
Specifies that participation in the program is voluntary and free for students and families.
Requires the Department of Education to submit interim and final reports on the effectiveness and cost of the program.

The amendment does not specify the exact amount of funding appropriated for the pilot program, only that it will be provided from general revenues.

Bill History

2026-03-30 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-03-30 S
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3269) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-03-20 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.
2026-03-17 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 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. 175).
2026-03-06 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 951-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-18 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 369-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-12 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Takenouchi.
2026-02-10 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 02-12-26 10:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-05 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSH with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Woodson excused (1).
2026-02-05 H
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 25-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSH.
2026-02-03 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.
2026-01-30 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 02-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-28 H
Referred to EDN, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 3
2026-01-26 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-23 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO COMMUNITY LITERACY LABS.
DOE; Community Literacy Labs; Pilot Program; Reports; Appropriation ($)
Establishes and appropriates funds for the Department of Education to establish and implement a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program. Requires reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2012

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2012

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to community literacy labs
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The legislature finds that literacy is a
foundational skill essential to academic achievement, workforce readiness,
economic mobility, and civic participation.
�

A significant number of students attending public schools receiving
federal Title I funding in Hawaii are not reading at grade level, particularly
by the end of third grade, increasing the likelihood of long-term educational
and economic disparities.

����
The legislature further finds that
schools face constraints related to time, staffing, and resources that limit
their ability to meet the full range of students' literacy needs.
�
Community-based and culturally responsive
literacy support, when coordinated with schools, has demonstrated effectiveness
in improving early reading proficiency and family engagement.
�
Expanded access to literacy supports outside
of regular school hours, including before school, after school, weekends, and
summer months, can close opportunity gaps and strengthen family and community
capacity.

����
The purpose of this Act is to
improve early literacy, reading proficiency, and lifelong educational outcomes
by establishing a two-year community literacy labs pilot program in certain underserved
and high-need communities.

����
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�
The department of education,
in collaboration with the department of human services and community partners,
shall establish and implement a two-year community literacy labs pilot program in
at least five communities where nearby public schools are receiving federal
Title I funding; provided that at least one pilot program is established and
implemented in each of the following:

����
(1)
�
An urban community;

����
(2)
�
A rural community; and

����
(3)
�
A county with a population less than five
hundred thousand.

����
(b)
�
The
department of education shall prioritize the establishment and implementation
of community literacy labs in communities demonstrating the greatest literacy
and access needs, including but not limited to communities with:

����
(1)
�
The highest
percentages of students reading below grade level;

����
(2)
�
The highest
concentrations of poverty;

����
(3)
�
Limited access to
libraries, tutoring services, or broadband Internet;

����
(4)
�
High populations
of English language learners or multilingual students; and

����
(5)
�
Significant
numbers of students experiencing housing instability or involvement in the
foster care system.

����
(c)
�
Community literacy labs may be staffed by:

����
(1)
�
Licensed teachers;

����
(2)
�
Literacy
specialists;

����
(3)
�
Educational
assistants;

����
(4)
�
Trained tutors or
paraprofessionals;

����
(5)
�
University or
community college students enrolled in education-related programs; and

����
(6)
�
Qualified
nonprofit or community-based organization partners.

����
(d)
�

The department of education may partner with:

����
(1)
�
The public library
system;

����
(2)
�
Universities and
community colleges;

����
(3)
�
Native Hawaiian
education organizations;

����
(4)
�
Immigrant and
language-access nonprofit organizations;

����
(5)
�
Housing
authorities and community centers; and

����
(6)
�
Other public or
private entities with expertise in literacy development.

����
(e)
�

The department of education shall submit an interim report to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of 2027 and a final report no later than twenty days prior to the
convening of the regular session of 2028.
�

Each report shall include:

����
(1)
�
The number and
geographic distribution of community literacy labs;

����
(2)
�
Student
participation and attendance rates;

����
(3)
�
Reading
proficiency outcomes and growth measures;

����
(4)
�
Family engagement
metrics;

����
(5)
�
Program
expenditures and cost-effectiveness; and

����
(6)
�
Recommendations,
including any proposed legislation, for program improvement or expansion.

����
The final
report shall also include a determination of whether the pilot program should
be made permanent and expanded statewide.

����
(f)
�
In addition to state funding, the department
of education may leverage federal Title I funds where permissible.

����
(g)
�
Participation in and access to the community
literacy lab
pilot
program shall
be voluntary and provided at no cost to students and families.

����
(h)
�
For purposes of this Act, "community
literacy lab" means a program, facility, or mobile service that provides:

����
(1)
�
Small
‑
group or individualized
reading instruction;

����
(2)
�
Evidence
‑
based literacy interventions
aligned with state standards;

����
(3)
�
Multilingual, culturally responsive, and place
‑
based
instructional materials;

����
(4)
�
Family literacy workshops and caregiver
training;

����
(5)
�
Digital literacy tools and assistive reading
technologies;

����
(6)
�
The distribution of free books to support home
libraries; or

����
(7)
�
Hawaii-relevant content reflective of local
cultures and communities,

and operates on a public school campus, in a nearby
community location, or through a mobile or pop
‑
up model to support literacy
development for students and families.

����
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 2026-2027 for the purposes of the
community literacy lab pilot program and to be used for:

����
(1)
�
Staffing and professional development;

����
(2)
�
Instructional materials and books;

����
(3)
�
Technology, software, and assistive tools;

����
(4)
�
Facility use, maintenance, and utilities;

����
(5)
�
Transportation, outreach, and family
engagement; and

����
(6)
�
Program evaluation and data collection.

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

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE;
Community Literacy Labs; Pilot Program; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
and appropriates funds for the Department of Education to establish and
implement a two-year Community Literacy Labs Pilot Program.

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