All Roll Calls
Yes: 206 • No: 9
HawaiiSB 21252025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)SenateWALLET
RELATING TO TEACHER LICENSING.
Sponsored By: Lynn DeCoite (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
Summary
Allows the Department of Education to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires that unlicensed teachers hired on an emergency basis make continuous and verifiable progress toward satisfying licensing requirements. Sunsets on 6/30/2031. (HD2)
DOECharter SchoolsTeacher LicensingEmergency HiresExemptionsLicensure ProgressEDN, LAB, FIN
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Emergency teachers can work longer
Hawaii’s Department of Education and charter schools can hire unlicensed teachers for up to five years per person, up from three. They can do so only when licensed teachers are unavailable for the assignment and the school has a demonstrated subject-area need. Each emergency hire must show active progress toward a teaching license every year. Schools must send monthly rosters and annual staffing reports to the Board of Education. The temporary rules end June 30, 2031, and prior rules return, but qualifying hires made before then can work up to five years from their original hire date if they keep showing yearly progress.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Lynn DeCoite
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Troy N. Hashimoto
Democratic • Senate
Glenn Wakai
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 5/6/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 46 • No: 4
Senate vote • 5/1/2026
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS....
Yes: 2 • No: 0
House vote • 5/1/2026
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments....
Yes: 5 • No: 0
House vote • 4/14/2026
House Floor Vote
Yes: 45 • No: 5
House vote • 4/8/2026
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 15 • No: 0
House vote • 3/24/2026
The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ...
Yes: 6 • No: 0
House vote • 3/20/2026
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on LAB...
Yes: 49 • No: 0
House vote • 3/19/2026
The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ...
Yes: 10 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/25/2026
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 24 • No: 0
Senate vote • 2/4/2026
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT...
Yes: 4 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Act 030, 05/22/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1130).
5/22/2026SenateAct 030, on 05/22/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1130).
5/22/2026HouseReceived notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
5/8/2026SenateEnrolled to Governor.
5/8/2026SenatePassed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
5/6/2026SenatePassed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Garcia, Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Belatti, Garrett, Iwamoto, Perruso voting no (4) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).
5/6/2026HouseReceived notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
5/6/2026HouseConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:00PM in conference room 229.
5/1/2026HouseThe Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCorte.
5/1/2026SenateThe Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, Lee, M., La Chica, Olds, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Sayama.
5/1/2026HouseReported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 208-26).
5/1/2026Senate48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
5/1/2026SenateReported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 208-26) as amended in (CD 1).
5/1/2026HouseForty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
5/1/2026HouseConference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
4/30/2026HouseConference committee meeting scheduled for 04-30-26 1:34PM; Conference Room 229.
4/29/2026SenateReceived notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 874).
4/29/2026SenateHouse Conferees Appointed: Woodson, Sayama, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; La Chica, Olds, Muraoka.
4/28/2026HouseSenate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Hashimoto, DeCorte.
4/20/2026SenateReceived notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).
4/20/2026HouseReceived from House (Hse. Com. No. 627).
4/16/2026SenateSenate disagrees with House amendments.
4/16/2026SenateReceived notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
4/16/2026HousePassed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Garcia, Matsumoto, Poepoe voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Alcos, Garrett, Iwamoto, Muraoka, Perruso voting no (5) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
4/14/2026HouseReported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2107-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending passage on Third Reading.
4/10/2026House
Bill Text
Bill Text
Original
SB2125_CD1
SB2125_HD1
SB2125_HD2
SB2125_SD1
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