HB582 • 2026

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 2 AND ARTICLE XVIII, SECTION 12, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL BOARD COMPRISED OF APPOINTED AND ELECTED MEMBERS.

Education Elections

Active

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

Sponsor: REYES ODA
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details on how the transition period will be managed or what happens if a board member reaches their twelve-year limit but wants to continue serving.

Proposing Changes to Hawaii's School Board

This bill proposes changing the composition of Hawaii's school board from all appointed members to a mix of five appointed members by the governor and four elected members representing each county, with term limits for all members.

What This Bill Does

Changes Article X, Section 2 of Hawaii’s Constitution to create a new school board structure.
Establishes that five members will be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.
Requires four additional members to be elected in a nonpartisan manner by voters from each county.
Limits all board members to serve no more than twelve years total during their lifetime.
Updates Article XVIII, Section 12 of Hawaii’s Constitution to reflect this transition.

Who It Names or Affects

The governor who will appoint five members of the school board.
Voters in each county who will elect four members of the school board.
Current and future teachers or retired teachers eligible to be elected as board members.
All residents affected by decisions made by the new school board.

Terms To Know

Constitutional Amendment: A change proposed to a state's constitution that requires voter approval.
Nonpartisan Election: An election where candidates do not run under the labels of political parties.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how the transition period will be managed.
It is unclear what happens if a board member reaches their twelve-year limit but wants to continue serving.
The exact process for confirming appointed members by the senate is not detailed.

Bill History

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

Official Summary Text

PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE X, SECTION 2 AND ARTICLE XVIII, SECTION 12, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HAWAII TO ESTABLISH A SCHOOL BOARD COMPRISED OF APPOINTED AND ELECTED MEMBERS.
Constitutional Amendment; School Board; Appointed and Elected (ConAm)
Proposes a constitutional amendment that would establish a school board comprised of five members appointed by the governor and four members elected by the voters and representing each county. Prohibits board members from serving more than twelve years as a member.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB582

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

582

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

proposing
amendments to article x, section 2 and article xviii, section 12, of the
constitution of the state of hawaii to establish a school board comprised of
appointed and elected members
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
Article X, section 2, of the Hawaii
Constitution is amended to read as follows:

"
BOARD OF EDUCATION

����
Section
2.
�
There shall be a board of
education
composed of nine members
.
�

The governor shall nominate and, by and with the advice and consent of
the senate, appoint [
the
]
five
members of the board of education,
as provided by law.
�
The four
remaining members shall be elected in a nonpartisan manner by qualified voters,
as provided by law.
�
Of the four elected
members, none shall be eligible to serve as a board member unless the person is
either currently employed as a teacher or retired with the last position of employment
as a teacher.
�
For the purpose of this section,
"teacher" means a person whose duties in the public educational
system are primarily teaching or instruction of students or related activities
centered primarily on students and who is in close and continuous contact with
students, and shall be limited to classroom teachers and special education
teachers.
�
There shall be at least one elected
member residing in each county.
�
No person
shall serve as a member for more than twelve years in their lifetime.
"

����
SECTION 2.
�
Article XVIII, section 12, of the Hawaii
Constitution is amended to read as follows:

"
BOARD
OF EDUCATION TRANSITION

����
Section 12.
�
There shall be a period of transition from
the [
elected
]
appointed
to the appointed
and elected
board
of education, as provided by law."

����
SECTION 3.
�
The question to be printed on the ballot
shall be as follows:

����
"Shall the
Board of Education be changed from a board appointed by the governor to a board
with five members appointed by the governor and four members elected by the
qualified voters of the State, where the elected members shall be teachers or
retired teachers representing each county, with all members serving no more
than twelve years as a member?"

����
SECTION 4.
�
Constitutional material to be repealed is
bracketed and stricken.
�
New
constitutional material is underscored.

����
SECTION 5.
�
This amendment shall take effect upon
compliance with article XVII, section 3, of the Constitution of the State of
Hawaii.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Constitutional
Amendment; School Board; Appointed and Elected

Description:

Proposes
a constitutional amendment that would establish a school board comprised of
five members appointed by the governor and four members elected by the voters
and representing each county.
�
Prohibits
board members from serving
more than twelve years as a member
.

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