SB2877 • 2026

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

Budget Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: KIM, CHANG, DECOITE, DECORTE, HASHIMOTO, KIDANI, MCKELVEY, RICHARDS, Kanuha, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
DOE; Student-Authored Book Publication Pilot Program; Kalihi; Nanakuli-Waianae; Grades Four, Five, Six; Report; Appropriation ($) Requires the Department of Education to establish a two-year Student-Authored Book Publication Pilot Program.
Authorizes the Pilot Program to be conducted for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at up to five Kalihi public elementary schools and up to five Nanakuli-Waianae public elementary schools to be integrated into existing curricula.
Appropriates funds.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2877 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2877 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2877 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2877 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2877 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2877 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2877 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2877 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2877 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 135-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 135-26).
2026-05-01 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) La Chica, Lee, M.; Ayes with reservations: none; 1 Noes: Representative(s) Muraoka; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-30 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
2026-04-29 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 1:37PM in conference room 229.
2026-04-28 H
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
2026-04-27 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-28-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-24-26 4:15PM; Conference Room 229.
2026-04-21 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 718).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Kidani Co-Chair; Hashimoto, DeCorte.
2026-04-20 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).
2026-04-20 H
House Conferees Appointed: La Chica, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
2026-04-10 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 564).
2026-04-10 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 523).
2026-04-09 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick, Shimizu voting no (4) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-09 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2011-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-07 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.
2026-04-02 H
Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-04-02 H
The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.
2026-03-31 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-30 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Shimizu voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1509-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-24 H
The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett, Kila.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 03-24-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 16
2026-03-10 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-06 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 84) in amended form (SD 1).
2026-03-06 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
One Day Notice 03-06-26.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2764) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-02 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-02-25 S
The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-02-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-18 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-18 S
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2337) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-11 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto.
2026-02-06 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2026-01-30 S
Referred to EDU, WAM.
2026-01-26 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-01-23 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO EDUCATION.
DOE; Student-Authored Book Publication Pilot Program; Kalihi; Nanakuli-Waianae; Grades Four, Five, Six; Report; Appropriation ($)
Requires the Department of Education to establish a two-year Student-Authored Book Publication Pilot Program. Authorizes the Pilot Program to be conducted for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at up to five Kalihi public elementary schools and up to five Nanakuli-Waianae public elementary schools to be integrated into existing curricula. Appropriates funds. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2877

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2877

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating
to Education
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
(a)
�
The department of education shall establish a
one-year
student-authored
book
publication pilot
program in which students research, write, and publish original works.
�
The program shall be designed to strengthen
literacy, analytical thinking, and communication skills; increase student
engagement and confidence; support students' academic progression and
preparation for postsecondary education; and foster connections to culture and
community.

����
(b)
�

The pilot program shall be conducted at Kalihi public elementary schools
and available to students in grade five.

����
(c)
�
Under
the student-authored book publication pilot program:

����
(1)
�
Each
teacher shall select a topic for their grade five class relating to Hawaiian
culture or the local community;

����
(2)
�
Each
student shall write and illustrate a book on the selected topic; provided that
the dimensions and length of the book shall be determined by the department of
education according to available funds; and

����
(3)
�
The
department of education shall facilitate the collection, printing, binding, and
return of the student-authored books.

����
(d)
�

The department of education shall contract with a third party in
accordance with chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to implement the pilot
program, including to fulfill its duties pursuant to subsection (c)(3).
�

����
(e)
�

The department of education shall submit a report on the student-authored
book publication pilot program to the legislature no later than twenty days
prior to the convening of the regular session of
2028.
�
The report shall include:

����
(1)
�
Assessments
of the program's implementation, student outcomes, and the feasibility of
continuing or expanding the program; and

����
(2)
�
Additional
findings, recommendations, and any proposed legislation.

����
SECTION 2.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $ or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the
establishment of the student-authored book publication pilot program.

����
The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of education for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED
BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE;
Student-Authored
Book
Publication Pilot
Program; Kalihi; Grade Five; Report; Appropriation

Description:

Requires
the Department of Education to establish a one-year
Student-Authored
Book
Publication Pilot Program
for fifth graders at Kalihi public elementary schools.
�
Requires a report to the legislature.
�
Appropriates funds.

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