# Hawaii SB 2616: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD.

Hawaii SB 2616, RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-01-28 (Referred to EDU, WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2616-2026
- 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 2616
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE HAWAII TEACHER STANDARDS BOARD.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-23
- Last action: 2026-01-28, Referred to EDU, WAM.
- Sponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Subjects: DOE, HTSB, Charter Schools, Emergency Hires, Rules, EDU, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Permits the Department of Education and charter schools to hire unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis for five, rather than three, years. Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to adopt rules.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Michelle N. Kidani (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Donovan M. Dela Cruz (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lorraine R. Inouye (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Dru Mamo Kanuha (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Rachele Lamosao (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joy A. San Buenaventura (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (3)

- 2026-01-28: Referred to EDU, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Introduced. (Senate)
- 2026-01-23: Passed First Reading. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2616_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2616_.pdf)

## 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
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2616_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB2616_.pdf)

## 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)
- [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-SB2616-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).