Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB1840: Relating to Education.
Status: Passed one chamber, April 16, 2026
Requires the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board to develop an alternative pathway for a visiting international educator permit aligned to the duration of the educator's J-1 visa program. Repeals 6/30/2031.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to education.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that it is important for the State's schools to have enough teachers to create a stable and qualified teaching workforce that can maintain educational quality and improve academic outcomes for students across the State. The legislature further finds that employing unlicensed individuals as teachers on an emergency basis offers a critical mechanism for schools to ensure every classroom, from kindergarten through grade twelve, is staffed by a dedicated educator. The existing emergency hiring policy was designed to address the ongoing chronic teacher shortage by allowing schools to utilize qualified individuals from diverse professional backgrounds and locations while those individuals work to attain teaching credentials. To continue as educators on a non-emergency basis, prospective teachers must complete the appropriate undergraduate coursework, standardized tests, an accredited certification 2026-1876 HB1840 SDl SMA.docx iiiiuiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniii Page 2 1840 H.B. NO H.D. S.D. program, fieldwork, and successful teaching evaluations to earn their teaching credentials in the State within three years. The legislature recognizes, however, that many prospective teachers are not able to complete these requirements within the existing timeline. Completing a licensure program, which often includes student teaching and rigorous exams, while managing a full-time classroom workload is incredibly difficult. Under existing law, a teacher who is performing well in the classroom but …
Sponsors
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Della Belatti (D, 26)
- Gedeon, Joe (R, 18)
- Ikaika Hussey (D, 29)
- Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D, 2)
- Matthias Kusch (D, 1)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
- Tyson Miyake (D, 10)
- Amy Perruso (D, 46)
- Mahina Poepoe (D, 13)
- Julie Reyes Oda (R, 40)
Latest actions
- : Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
- : House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
- : Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 533) in amended form (SD 1).
- : Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
- : One Day Notice 04-10-26.
- : Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3636) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
- : The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..
- : The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-06-26 10:32AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
- : Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
- : Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3260) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
Votes
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading (April 10, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 6, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- EDU: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 23, 2026): 4 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Perruso voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Iwamoto voting no (1) and none excused (0) (March 10, 2026): 50 yea, 1 nay, passed
- CPC: recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (February 26, 2026): 8 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on CPC with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M (February 17, 2026): 48 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Education, DOE, Study
Common questions
- What is HB1840?
- HB1840 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Education.
- What does HB1840 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to education.
- What is the status of HB1840?
- Passed one chamber as of April 16, 2026. Latest action: Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599). (April 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB1840?
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB1840?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1840&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.