HawaiiHB 18882025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)HouseWALLET

RELATING TO THE SAFETY OF EDUCATIONAL WORKERS.

Sponsored By: Justin H. Woodson (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Summary

Part I: Requires the Department of Education and state public charter schools to take certain steps to better address the harassment of educational workers, including sports officials. Authorizes the Attorney General to assist educational workers, including sports officials at department of education or public charter school sporting events, who have been subject to harassment or intentional bodily injury in obtaining a temporary restraining order. Part II: Clarifies that a sports official's duties cover sports events at public schools and private schools. Makes intentional or knowing bodily injury of an educational worker or a sports official engaged in the lawful discharge of their duties a class C felony for the first offense and a class B felony for a second or subsequent offense within ten years. Effective 7/1/3000. (SD2)

DOEPublic Charter SchoolsEducational WorkersSports OfficialsProtection and Workplace SafetyPenal CodeHarassmentEDN, LAB, JHA, FIN

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Safer schools for educational workers

Educational workers can report qualifying harassment by a nonemployee to their supervisor, who must respond under school procedures. The Department of Education and public charter schools must investigate submitted reports internally, not through outside contractors. They must report submitted incidents involving a possible threat of physical harm to law enforcement within 48 hours. They must also share written procedures and safety information each year, make emergency safety plans with worker input, and provide annual harassment and de-escalation training.

School workers get paid court leave

Educational workers seeking court protection from qualifying harassment by a nonemployee because of their job receive reasonable, sufficient paid leave for related court proceedings. They must provide documentation. Leave for workers in certain bargaining units follows collective-bargaining rules. The Department of Education and public charter schools must help workers seek temporary restraining orders and repay costs to serve them, but not attorneys’ fees or court costs. The Attorney General may also help workers who faced harassment or intentional bodily injury, but cannot represent them or file a court request for them.

Stronger harassment penalties for school workers

Conduct that disrupts or interferes with a school, school office, or school board can count as harassment when the person intends to harass, annoy, or alarm someone. Harassment against an educational worker becomes a misdemeanor instead of a petty misdemeanor when the worker is doing their job or is in an educational facility. The law does not set a new fine amount.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Justin H. Woodson

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Terez Amato

    Democratic • House

  • Della Au Belatti

    Democratic • House

  • Cory M. Chun

    Democratic • House

  • Andrew Takuya Garrett

    Democratic • House

  • Tina Nakada Grandinetti

    Democratic • House

  • Greggor Ilagan

    Democratic • House

  • Kim Coco Iwamoto

    Democratic • House

  • Jeanne Kapela

    Democratic • House

  • KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Darius K. Kila

    Democratic • House

  • Matthias Kusch

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Lee

    Democratic • House

  • Nicole E. Lowen

    Democratic • House

  • M.

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Lisa Marten

    Democratic • House

  • Scot Z. Matayoshi

    Democratic • House

  • Tyson K. Miyake

    Democratic • House

  • Dee Morikawa

    Democratic • House

  • Ikaika Olds

    Democratic • House

  • Amy A. Perruso

    Democratic • House

  • Mahina Poepoe

    Democratic • House

  • REYES ODA

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Jackson D. Sayama

    Democratic • House

  • Kanani Souza

    Republican • House

  • Gregg Takayama

    Democratic • House

  • Jenna Takenouchi

    Democratic • House

  • Adrian K. Tam

    Democratic • House

  • David A. Tarnas

    Democratic • House

  • Chris Todd

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 235 • No: 2

House vote • 5/6/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 50 • No: 1

House vote • 5/1/2026

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/1/2026

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/14/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 25 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2026

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 5 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2026

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 13 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 4 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/23/2026

The committee(s) on LBT recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...

Yes: 4 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 49 • No: 1

House vote • 2/24/2026

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 8 • No: 0

House vote • 2/17/2026

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 2/10/2026

Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB...

Yes: 51 • No: 0

House vote • 2/3/2026

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Act 234, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1336).

    7/13/2026Senate
  2. Act 234, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1336).

    7/13/2026House
  3. Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).

    5/8/2026Senate
  4. Transmitted to Governor.

    5/7/2026House
  5. Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

    5/6/2026Senate
  6. Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and none excused (0).

    5/6/2026House
  7. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).

    5/6/2026House
  8. The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, Sayama, Tarnas, Lee, M., Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

    5/1/2026House
  9. The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Elefante, Rhoads, Wakai, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

    5/1/2026Senate
  10. Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 150-26) as amended in (CD 1).

    5/1/2026House
  11. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.

    5/1/2026House
  12. Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 150-26).

    5/1/2026Senate
  13. 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

    5/1/2026Senate
  14. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.

    4/30/2026House
  15. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 1:37PM in conference room 229.

    4/29/2026House
  16. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.

    4/28/2026House
  17. Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:35PM in conference room 229.

    4/27/2026House
  18. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).

    4/22/2026House
  19. Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Elefante, Rhoads, Wakai Co-Chairs; DeCorte.

    4/21/2026Senate
  20. Re-referred to EDN, LAB, JHA, FIN, referral sheet 30

    4/20/2026House
  21. House Conferees Appointed: Woodson, Sayama, Tarnas, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Muraoka.

    4/20/2026House
  22. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).

    4/20/2026Senate
  23. Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).

    4/17/2026Senate
  24. House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

    4/16/2026House
  25. Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: Senator(s) Fevella. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

    4/14/2026Senate

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