HB559 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Education

Active

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

Sponsor: CHUN, AMATO, KAHALOA, LAMOSAO, LEE, M., LOWEN, MARTEN, MATAYOSHI, MIYAKE, POEPOE, TAKENOUCHI, TAM, TARNAS, TODD
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the funding or support mechanisms for schools implementing financial literacy education.

Teaching Financial Literacy in Schools

This bill requires the Department of Education to include financial literacy education as part of each student's personal transition plan starting from the 2027-2028 school year.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Education to include teaching financial literacy in the existing personal transition plan requirement for each student, beginning with the 2027-2028 school year.

Who It Names or Affects

Students in Hawaii's public school system starting with the 2027-2028 school year
Schools that must incorporate financial literacy into their existing personal transition plan requirement

Terms To Know

Financial Literacy: Understanding how to manage money, including budgeting, saving, and investing.
Personal Transition Plan: A plan that helps students prepare for life after high school by setting goals and planning steps to achieve them.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how schools will be funded or supported in implementing these changes.
It is unclear if there are existing resources available to help schools develop financial literacy programs.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-01-21 H
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 2
2025-01-21 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-17 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
DOE; Financial Literacy; Personal Transition Plan
Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires the Department of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in the personal transition plan requirement for each student.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB559

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

559

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.
�
The
legislature finds that financial education is a lifelong learning process that empowers
individuals to plan for their futures.
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Historically, the education system has assumed that students learn
important financial skills from their families.
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However, not all students are being taught the financial skills they
will need to be successful later in life.

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The legislature also finds that a lack of
financial literacy poses a significant barrier for individuals seeking to
achieve financial prosperity and stability.
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Personal financial education is essential to ensure that Hawaii's youth
are prepared to manage money, credit, and debt, and to become responsible
workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and
citizens.

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The legislature further finds that it is of
the utmost importance to educate Hawaii's youth in economic and financial
matters to prepare them for financial independence through the development of
fiscal responsibility and financial management skills.

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Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to
require the department of education to include the teaching of financial
literacy in the existing personal transition plan course requirement.

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SECTION 2.
�

Commencing with the 2027-2028 school year, the department of education
shall require the teaching of financial literacy to be included in the existing
personal transition plan requirement for each student.
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A school may provide financial literacy
systematically in the school program or develop its financial literacy program
based on the school's stakeholder input on the scope and sequence of its
personal transition plan.

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For purposes of this section,
"financial literacy" includes but is not limited to curricula
addressing financial skills, personal financial management, budgeting, debt,
credit, and tax planning.

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SECTION 3.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE; Financial Literacy; Personal Transition Plan

Description:

Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires the Department
of Education to include the teaching of financial literacy in the personal transition
plan requirement for each student.

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