RELATING TO PREFERRED NAMES.

SB3023

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3023

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO PREFERRED NAMES
.

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 the use of a
transgender or non-binary individual's name assigned at birth, rather than
their chosen name, without their consent, is often referred to as
"deadnaming".
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Failing to use a
student's preferred name on student records and in campus settings can
undermine the emotional well-being of transgender, indigenous, minority, and other
children, leading to bullying, discrimination, violence, and loss of
educational and economic opportunities.

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The
legislature further finds that deadnaming in educational settings is a common
practice.
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Yet, research has found that
using students' chosen and preferred names is associated with improved mental
health outcomes.
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For example, a 2018
study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that using
transgender youths' preferred names in more contexts was associated with lower
rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior, and that the
odds of each were lowest when preferred names were used in more contexts.

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The legislature notes that the university
of Hawaii has already adopted a system by which any student may use a preferred
name to foster an inclusive and supportive campus environment.
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Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to
require the department of education to implement a process
to allow students to use preferred names to strengthen inclusivity in public
schools.

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

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�302A-
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Preferred
name for students.

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(a)
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The department shall implement a system by
which current or former students can declare a preferred name to be used in
their records where legal names are not required by law.

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(b)
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Upon the request of an
individual, the department shall update any records for current or former
students to include the preferred name.
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The records shall be updated to include the
following:

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(1)
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School-issued email addresses;

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(2)
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Campus identification cards;

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(3)
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Class rosters;

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(4)
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Transcripts; and

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(5)
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Diplomas, certificates of completion
of courses, or other similar records.

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(c)
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The department shall not
charge a fee for correcting, updating, or reissuing a document or record based
on the declaration of a preferred name.

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(d)
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Commencing with the 2026�2027
graduating class, the department shall provide an option for a graduating
student to request that the diploma to be conferred by the department list the
student's preferred name; provided that the department shall not require a
graduating student to provide legal documentation to demonstrate a legal name
in order to have the student's preferred name listed on the student's diploma.
"

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SECTION 3.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DOE;
Public Schools; Preferred Names

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to implement a
process to allow students to use preferred names to strengthen inclusivity in
public schools.

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