RELATING TO CIVIC EDUCATION.

SB2754

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2754

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to civic 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 a thriving
democracy depends on an engaged, informed, and empowered citizenry.
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Yet the systems that sustain democratic
participation�critical thinking, media literacy, collaborative problem-solving,
and knowledge of governmental processes�must be intentionally cultivated.
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For students, education received in middle
school or intermediate school is a pivotal period in which young people form
lasting understandings of their role in public life and their connection to
community, government, and aina.
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To meet
this moment, Hawaii's public schools require stable, dedicated resources that
expand opportunities for students to develop civic knowledge and the habits of
democratic participation.

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The legislature further finds that
existing funding structures do not adequately support the development of civic
knowledge for students.
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Civic education
is often reliant on uneven school-level capacity, discretionary funds, or
short-term grants that cannot sustain long-range program design.
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These structural gaps limit access to
experiential civic learning, professional development for social studies
teachers, and curriculum aligned with Hawaii's civic-mission priorities.
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Without a reliable funding mechanism, the
State's obligation to prepare young people for informed participation in our
shared governance is weakened, and disparities in civic opportunity widen.

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The legislature also finds that to
address the systemic challenges that impede the pursuit of civic knowledge, a
special fund dedicated solely to advancing civic education in Hawaii's public
middle and intermediate schools is needed.
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By establishing a permanent,
purpose-restricted funding source, the legislature affirms that civic education
is a core public good essential to the health of our democratic systems and
will ensure that every middle and intermediate school student in Hawaii,
regardless of geography, income, or school resources, has meaningful access to
high-quality civic-learning opportunities that prepare them to participate
fully in the life of the State's democracy.

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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act
is to strengthen Hawaii's civic infrastructure by establishing a civic
education grant program and civic education trust fund and dedicating their use
exclusively to support civic education in Hawaii's public middle and
intermediate schools.

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

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�302A-A
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Civic
education grant program; establishment; administration.
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(a)
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There is established within
the department for administrative purposes a civic education grant program, to
be administered by the department's office of curriculum and instructional
support services, to support public middle and intermediate schools in
providing civic education to students through department approved programming.

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(b)
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Applications for grants shall be made to the department.
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At a minimum, the applicant shall:

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(1)
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Provide a
detailed plan outlining the scope, objectives, and projected impact of the
project or projects and a clear breakdown of how grant funds will be used;

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(2)
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Agree to use
state funds exclusively for the purposes of this program;

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(3)
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Indicate
capability to properly use the grant for the purpose of the grant program;

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(4)
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Comply with all
applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against any person
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual
orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected under applicable
federal or state law;

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(5)
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Agree not to
use state funds for purposes of entertainment or perquisites;

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(6)
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Comply with
other requirements as the department may prescribe;

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(7)
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Comply with all
applicable federal, state, and county statutes, rules, and ordinances;

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(8)
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Agree to
indemnify and save harmless the State of Hawaii and its officers, agents, and
employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from
activities carried out or projects undertaken with funds provided hereunder and
procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do
so by the department; and

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(9)
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Agree to make
available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the
grant to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this
subsection.

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(c)
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Grant awards shall be funded by the civic education trust fund
established pursuant to section 302A-B; provided that no grant shall be awarded
without the approval of a social studies educational specialist pursuant to
section 302A-B(d).

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(d)
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Each participating school shall submit an
annual report to the department no later than December 1 of each year on how
awarded grant funds were used to further civic education, including updates or
status reports on the following:

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(1)
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I
mplementation
of civic education programming and curriculum;

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(2)
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Teacher
development; and

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(3)
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Progress in
meeting any evaluation metrics for civic education programming as established
by the department.

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(e)
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The department of education shall compile the
reports received from participating schools pursuant to subsection (d) into one
report and submit the report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior
to the convening of each regular session.

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(f)
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The department may adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

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�302A-B
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Civic education trust fund; established.
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(a)
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There is established within the
state treasury a civic education trust fund to be administered by the office of
curriculum and instructional support services of the department.

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(b) The civic education trust fund shall
consist of:

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(1)
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Any
appropriations made by the legislature;

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(2)
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Grants, gifts,
and donations from public sources, including federal funding, or private
sources; and

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(3)
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Interest or
other income earned from the investment of moneys in the fund.

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(c)
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The department shall expend moneys in the civic education trust fund
exclusively to support civic education programming, curriculum implementation,
teacher professional development, and student civic-learning opportunities in public
middle and intermediate schools, including through the provision of funding for
grants under the civic education grant program established pursuant to section
302A-A.

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(d)
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Expenditures from the civic education trust fund shall be approved by a
social studies educational specialist, as designated by the superintendent.

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(e)
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The department shall submit an annual report on the civic education
trust fund to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening
of each regular session.
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The report
shall include:

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(1)
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Expenditures
from and contributions to the trust fund during the preceding fiscal year; and

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(2)
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Results and
outcomes achieved from expenditures from the trust fund.

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(f)
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Moneys deposited into or appropriated to the trust fund shall remain
available until they are obligated or until the trust fund is terminated.
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If the trust fund is terminated, all funds,
including interest or other income earned from the investment of moneys in the
fund, shall be transferred to the general fund.
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SECTION 3.
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In codifying the new sections added by
section 2 of this Act, the revisor of statutes shall substitute appropriate
section numbers for the letters used in designating the new sections in this
Act.

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SECTION 4.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Education; Civic Education; Public Middle Schools; Public Intermediate Schools;
Civic Education Grant Program; Civic Education Trust Fund

Description:

Establishes
a Civic Education Grant Program to provide support to public middle and
intermediate schools in providing civic education to students through
department approved programming. Establishes a Civic Education Trust Fund.

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