# Hawaii SB 2549: RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.

Hawaii SB 2549, RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-10 (Pass First Reading) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2549-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 2549
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO STUDENT TRANSPORTATION.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-03-10, Pass First Reading
- Sponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Subjects: DOE, Student Transportation, Governor, Reports, EDN, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 3 (40 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Requires the Department of Education to hire a new contractor or contractors with the Governor's approval if a contractor under a student transportation contract fails to provide service on a contracted route for five or more consecutive instructional days. Requires the DOE to assess a penalty if a contractor fails to provide service on a contracted route without an approved justification. Specifies that the assessed penalties be deposited into the School Bus Fare Revolving Fund. Beginning 7/1/2026, requires all requests for proposals issued and contracts executed by the DOE for student transportation services to specifically reference certain new provisions. Authorizes the use of the School Bus Fare Revolving Fund to offset costs associated with procuring replacement services. Requires quarterly reports to the Legislature. (SD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Troy N. Hashimoto (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Kurt Fevella (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Glenn Wakai (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-06 | Senate | Senate Floor Vote | pass | 24 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-02 | Senate | The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The... | pass | 13 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-13 | Senate | The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENT... | pass | 3 | 0 |   |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-03-10: Pass First Reading (House)
- 2026-03-10: Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 16 (House)
- 2026-03-06: Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 63) in amended form (SD 1). (House)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2772) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: One Day Notice 03-06-26. (Senate)
- 2026-03-02: The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none. (Senate)
- 2026-02-25: The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-02-26 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-23: The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2331) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-18: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-02-13: The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Hashimoto. (Senate)
- 2026-02-10: The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 1:05PM; CR 229 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Referred to EDU, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_SD1_.pdf)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_.PDF)
- SB2549_SD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_SD1_.HTM)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_SD1_.pdf)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_.PDF)
- [SB2549_SD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2549_SD1_.HTM)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2031: RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2031-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2549-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).