# Hawaii HB 238: RELATING TO EARLY CHILD CARE.

Hawaii HB 238, RELATING TO EARLY CHILD CARE., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Lisa Marten (Democratic); status in committee, last action 2025-02-05 (Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 154) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB238-2025
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 238
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO EARLY CHILD CARE.
- Status: in committee
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-16
- Last action: 2025-02-05, Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 154) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
- Sponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 17
- Subjects: DHS, Child Care Worker Subsidy and Bonus Program, Infant and Toddler Child Care Centers, Group Child Care Centers, Group Child Care Homes, Family Child Care Homes, Reports, Appropriation, HSH, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and implement a Child Care Provider Subsidy and Bonus Program to provide subsidies to retain the existing child care workforce in licensed infant and toddler child care centers, group child care centers, and group child care homes and bonuses to registered family child care homes. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Lisa Marten (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tina Nakada Grandinetti (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Holt (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kim Coco Iwamoto (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Lisa Kitagawa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: LA CHICA
- Cosponsor: Scot Z. Matayoshi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Dee Morikawa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ikaika Olds (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mahina Poepoe (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jackson D. Sayama (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Gregg Takayama (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Adrian K. Tam (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: David A. Tarnas (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Chris Todd (Democratic), House

## Actions (7)

- 2025-02-05: Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 154) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-02-05: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-01-30: The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. (House)
- 2025-01-27: Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 01-30-25 9:35AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 1 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-16: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_HD1_.pdf)
- HB238_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB238_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB238_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB238-2025 (as of 2026-10-17).