SB494 • 2026

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Budget Education

Active

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

Sponsor: RICHARDS, FEVELLA, HASHIMOTO, KANUHA, KIM, Chang
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
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 CHARTER SCHOOLS.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
Auditor; Charter Schools; State Public Charter School Commission; Financial Audit; Report; Appropriation ($) Requires the Auditor to conduct a financial audit of each charter school under the State Public Charter School Commission.
Requires a report to the Legislature.
Requires the State Public Charter School Commission to take action based on the Auditor's recommendations.

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.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB494 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB494 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
494 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB494 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB494 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
494 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB494 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB494 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
494 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS .

Bill History

2026-03-30 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from LMG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1493-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to FIN.
2026-03-25 H
The committee on LMG recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Quinlan, Ichiyama, Kahaloa, Morikawa; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Matsumoto.
2026-03-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by LMG on Wednesday, 03-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-20 H
Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on LMG with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-03-20 H
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1294-26), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to LMG.
2026-03-19 H
The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Amato; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Thursday, 03-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-03-11 H
The committee(s) on EDN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred.
2025-03-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 03-11-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-03-06 H
Referred to EDN, LMG, FIN, referral sheet 19
2025-03-06 H
Pass First Reading
2025-03-04 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 164) in amended form (SD 2).
2025-03-04 S
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
2025-02-28 S
48 Hrs. Notice 03-04-25.
2025-02-28 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 920) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2025-02-26 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-20 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-26-25 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2025-02-12 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2025-02-12 S
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 345) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2025-02-07 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2025-02-04 S
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-07-25 3:08PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
2025-01-21 S
Referred to EDU, WAM.
2025-01-17 S
Passed First Reading.
2025-01-17 S
Introduced.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS.
Auditor; Charter Schools; State Public Charter School Commission; Financial Audit; Report; Appropriation ($)
Requires the Auditor to conduct a financial audit of each charter school under the State Public Charter School Commission. Requires a report to the Legislature. Requires the State Public Charter School Commission to take action based on the Auditor's recommendations. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB494

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

494

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to charter schools
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
(a)
�
The department of budget and finance, in
collaboration with the auditor, shall conduct a financial audit of the State's charter
school system.
�
For each charter school
operating in the State, the financial audit shall include:

����
(1)
�
A
list of financial expenditures for the past three years;

����
(2)
�
Financial
information concerning faculty; and

����
(3)
�
The
school's cash on hand balance.

����
(b)
�

The department of budget and finance shall submit a report of its
findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
session of
2026.

����
SECTION 2.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal
year 2026-2027 for the department of budget and finance to complete the
financial audit pursuant to section 1 of this Act.

����
The sums

appropriated shall be expended by the department of budget and
finance for the purposes of this Act.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

BUF;
Auditor; Charter Schools; Financial Audit; Report; Appropriations

Description:

Requires
the Department of Budget and Finance, in collaboration with the Auditor, to
conduct a financial audit of each charter school operating in the State.
�
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.