HB333 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Education

Active

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

Sponsor: LA CHICA, KILA, LEE, M.
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The exact school year when this law will take effect is not specified in the bill text, leaving some uncertainty about its implementation timeline.

School Start Time Law

This bill requires public elementary, middle, and high schools to start classes no earlier than 8:30 a.m., with adjustments for bus and meal schedules.

What This Bill Does

Sets the earliest time that public school classes can begin at 8:30 a.m. starting from an unspecified future school year.
Requires the Department of Education to adjust state-provided bus and meal schedules accordingly.

Who It Names or Affects

Public elementary, middle, and high schools in Hawaii
Students attending these public schools

Terms To Know

Department of Education (DOE): The government agency responsible for managing public education.
Waiver: An exception to a rule, allowing certain schools not to follow the new start time if approved by the Department of Education.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not apply to charter schools.
The exact school year when this law will take effect is not specified in the bill text.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-11 H
The committee(s) on EDN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 02-11-25 2:01PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 1
2025-01-17 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-16 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
DOE; School Classes; Start Time
Beginning with the - school year, requires public elementary, middle, and high school classes to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. Requires the Department of Education to adjust state-provided bus and school meal schedules accordingly.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB333

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

333

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:

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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that the American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends that the first school bell ring no earlier
than 8:30 a.m. nationwide.
�
Early school
start times are associated with students sleeping less, and, along with
irritability and fatigue, students who sleep less may experience difficulty
paying attention in class, negatively affecting students' academic
performance.
�
In Hawaii, all but five
public high schools begin their school days before 8:30 a.m.

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The
purpose of this Act is to require all public elementary, middle, and high
schools to start school days no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

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

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"
�302A-

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School day start time.
�
(a)
�

Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, beginning with the
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‑

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school year, all public elementary,
middle, and high school classes in the State shall begin no earlier than 8:30
a.m.; provided that this section shall not apply to charter schools.

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(b)
�
The board, in its discretion, may grant a
waiver to any school that is subject to this section.
�
The board shall adopt policies and procedures
to grant a waiver under this subsection.

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(c)
�

This section shall not exempt any school from the requirements under
section 302A-251.
"

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SECTION 3.
�
The department of education shall adjust
state‑provided school bus and school meal schedules for public schools to
align with the class start times set forth in section 2 of this Act.

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

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SECTION
5.
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This Act shall take effect upon its
approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE;
School Classes; Start Time

Description:

Beginning
with the
����
-
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school year, requires public elementary,
middle, and high school classes to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
�
Requires the Department of Education to
adjust state-provided bus and school meal schedules accordingly.

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