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

HB63 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Education
Active

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

Sponsor
SOUZA, PERRUSO
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 details on funding or implementation specifics for the CPR instruction requirements.

Teaching CPR in Schools

This bill requires public, private, and charter schools to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as part of the health education curriculum for high school students starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires all public, private, and charter schools to include CPR instruction in their health education classes for high school students beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Specifies that CPR training must involve hands-on practice and follow nationally recognized emergency care guidelines.
  • Allows both licensed teachers and community volunteers who are formally trained to teach CPR, without requiring additional formal training for licensed teachers.
  • Permits schools to exempt students with disabilities from participating in the hands-on CPR practice.
  • Protects schools and instructors from civil liability related to the acts or omissions of individuals receiving CPR instruction.

Who It Names or Affects

  • High school students in public, private, and charter schools across the state.
  • School administrators responsible for implementing the new curriculum requirements.
  • Teachers and volunteers who will provide CPR training to high school students.

Terms To Know

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
A lifesaving technique used in emergencies involving cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, which includes chest compressions and rescue breathing.
Hands-on practice
Practical training where students physically perform CPR techniques under supervision.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact content or duration of the CPR instruction.
  • It is unclear how schools will fund and implement this new requirement.

Bill History

  1. 2025-12-08 D

    Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

  2. 2025-01-21 H

    Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 1

  3. 2025-01-16 H

    Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  4. 2025-01-13 H

    Prefiled.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; CPR; Health Education; Public Schools; Private Schools; Charter Schools
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, requires each public, private, and charter school in the State to establish a program within the health education curriculum for high school students to provide instruction in CPR. Specifies instruction requirements. Waives liability for instruction under certain circumstances.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB63

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

63

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:

����
SECTION
1.
�
Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�302A-
��

��
Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation education.
�
(a)
�

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the department shall
provide and include in at least one health education class required for high
school graduation, instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

����
(b)
�

Instruction provided under this section shall:

����
(1)
�
Include hands-on practice of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

����
(2)
�
Be congruent with current, nationally
recognized, evidence-based emergency care guidelines.

����
(c)
�
Instruction provided under this section may
be taught by persons who:

����
(1)
�
Are not licensed teachers, but who are
formally trained to provide the instruction, including volunteers from the
community; or

����
(2)
�
Are licensed teachers; provided that
licensed teachers shall not require formal training to provide the instruction.

����
(d)
�
Any public school may waive the requirement
for instruction provided under this section for any student who is unable to
participate in the hands-on practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to a
disability.

����
(e)
�
No entity of the State or a county government,
public organization, or private organization that sponsors, authorizes,
supports, finances, or supervises the instruction of students in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation under this section shall be liable for any civil
damages alleged to result from the acts or omissions of an individual who
received the instruction.

����
(f)
�
No public employee who provides or
facilitates the instruction of students in cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall
be liable for any civil damages alleged to result from the acts or omissions of
an individual who received the instruction.
"

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

����
"
�302C-
��

��
Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation education.
�
(a)
�

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each private school in the
State shall provide and include in at least one health education class required
for high school graduation, instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

����
(b)
�

Instruction provided under this section shall:

����
(1)
�
Include the hands-on practice of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

����
(2)
�
Be congruent with current, nationally
recognized, evidence-based emergency care guidelines.

����
(c)
�
Instruction provided under this section may
be taught by persons who:

����
(1)
�
Are not teachers, but who are formally
trained to provide the instruction, including volunteers from the community; or

����
(2)
�
Are teachers; provided that teachers shall
not require formal training to provide the instruction.

����
(d)
�
Any private school may waive the requirement
for instruction provided under this section for any student who is unable to
participate in the hands-on practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation due to a
disability.

����
(e)
�
No entity of the State or a county government,
public organization, or private organization that sponsors,
�
authorizes, supports, finances, or supervises
the instruction of students in cardiopulmonary resuscitation under this section
shall be liable for any civil damages alleged to result from the acts or
omissions of an individual who received the instruction.

����
(f)
�
No public employee or private school employee
who provides or facilitates the instruction of students in cardiopulmonary
resuscitation shall be liable for any civil damages alleged to result from the
acts or omissions of an individual who received the instruction.
"

����
SECTION
3.
�
Chapter 302D, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

����
"
�302D-
��

��
Cardiopulmonary
resuscitation education.
�
(a)
�

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each public charter school
shall provide and include in at least one health education class required for
high school graduation, instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

����
(b)
�

Instruction provided under this section shall:

����
(1)
�
Include hands-on practice of
cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

����
(2)
�
Be congruent with current, nationally
recognized, evidence-based emergency care guidelines.

����
(c)
�
Instruction provided under this section may
be taught by persons who:

����
(1)
�
Are not licensed teachers, but who are
formally trained to provide the instruction, including volunteers from the
community; or

����
(2)
�
Are licensed teachers; provided that
licensed teachers shall not require formal training to provide the instruction.

����
(d)
�
Any public charter school may waive the
requirement for instruction provided under this section for any student who is
unable to participate in the hands-on practice of cardiopulmonary resuscitation
due to a disability.

����
(e)
�
No entity of the State or a county government,
public organization, or private organization that sponsors, authorizes,
supports, finances, or supervises the instruction of students in
cardiopulmonary resuscitation under this section shall be liable for any civil
damages alleged to result from the acts or omissions of an individual who
received the instruction.

����
(f)
�
No public employee who provides or
facilitates the instruction of students in cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall
be liable for any civil damages alleged to result from the acts or omissions of
an individual who received the instruction.
"

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

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

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation; CPR; Health Education; Public Schools; Private Schools; Charter
Schools

Description:

Beginning
in the 2026-2027 school year, requires each public, private, and charter school
in the State to establish a program within the health education curriculum for
high school students to provide instruction in CPR.
�
Specifies instruction requirements.
�
Waives liability for instruction under
certain circumstances.

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