KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Hawaii

HB2588 • 2026

RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING.

RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING.

Budget
Active

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

Sponsor
QUINLAN, AMATO, CHUN, GARRETT, GRANDINETTI, HARTSFIELD, HOLT, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, KUSCH, LOWEN, MARTEN, MIYAKE, MORIKAWA, PERRUSO, POEPOE, TAKAYAMA, TAKENOUCHI, TEMPLO
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING.

RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING.

What This Bill Does

  • RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING.
  • American Sign Language; Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation ($) Establishes an American Sign Language Program at the University of Hawaii and appropriates funding for the program.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 H

    Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6

  2. 2026-01-28 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETING.
American Sign Language; Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation ($)
Establishes an American Sign Language Program at the University of Hawaii and appropriates funding for the program.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB2588

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2588

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to American Sign language interpreting
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that Hawaii
faces a growing shortage of qualified American Sign Language interpreters.
�
The 2024 report to the legislature entitled
Assessment
of American Sign Language Interpreting Services and the Interpreter Shortage in
Hawaii
, submitted by the Department of Health, Disability and Communication
Access Board recommended establishing an American Sign Language interpreter training
program within the university of Hawaii system.

����
The
legislature further finds that while there are over two hundred certificate,
associate, bachelor, and graduate level interpreter training programs
nationwide, Hawaii is one of only eight states which does not have an interpreter
training program.

����
The
legislature believes that establishing a bachelor of arts degree in sign language
interpretation program with a multi-year plan to include a master's program
will eliminate the shortage of American Sign Language interpreters, and provide
an academic and career path for state residents to become skilled professionals.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds for the establishment of a bachelor
of arts degree in sign language interpretation with a multi-year plan to
include a master's program at the university of Hawaii at Manoa.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $140,000 or so much thereof
as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to:

����
(1)
�
Establish a bachelor of arts degree in sign language
interpretation at the university of Hawaii at Manoa campus;

����
(2)
�
Develop a multi-year plan to include a master's
degree in sign language interpretation;

����
(3)
�
Fund additional personnel associated with the
establishment of the interpreter training program; and

����
(4)
�
Purchase related supplies and equipment.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of
this Act.

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

American
Sign Language; Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes
an American Sign Language Program at the University of Hawaii and appropriates
funding for the program.

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