Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HR99: Urging the Department of Education to Support Academic Flexibility and Equity for Students with Chronic and Autoimmune Illnesses.
Status: Passed both chambers, April 2, 2026
What the bill says
From the introduced text:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 STATE OF HAWAII HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO SUPPORT ACADEMIC FLEXIBILITY AND EQUITY FOR STUDENTS WITH CHRONIC AND AUTOIMMUNE ILLNESSES. WHEREAS, students in Hawaii are increasingly navigating chronic and autoimmune illnesses that are episodic, unpredictable, and often invisible, including illnesses such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and type I diabetes; and WHEREAS, research indicates that Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations experience higher rates and more severe forms of certain autoimmune diseases, making these conditions relevant to Hawaii's diverse student population; and WHEREAS, these conditions can cause periods of severe fatigue, pain, hospitalization, and medical absences that significantly disrupt academic continuity and student well-- being; and WHEREAS, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 provides important individual accommodations for students with disabilities, yet implementation and awareness vary widely across schools, particularly for students with episodic chronic illnesses whose needs fluctuate over time; and WHEREAS, students managing chronic illness frequently experience heightened academic stress, burnout, and mental health challenges when attendance policies and assignment deadlines are applied without flexibility during medically documented flare--ups; and WHEREAS, students on neighbor islands face additional barriers due to limited access to medical specialists and the need for off-island travel, resulting in further academic and social disruption; and 2026--2378 HR HMSO ~ NcJ. H.R. …
Sponsors
- Sam Kong (D, HD-033) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Resolution adopted in final form.
- : Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
- : Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1794-26), recommending adoption.
- : The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett, Kila, Muraoka, Souza.
- : Resolution scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 03-31-26 2:00PM in conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
- : Referred to EDN, referral sheet 19
- : Offered
Votes
- Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (April 2, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
- EDN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 31, 2026): 6 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Appropriations, DOE
Common questions
- What is HR99?
- HR99 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Urging the Department of Education to Support Academic Flexibility and Equity for Students with Chronic and Autoimmune Illnesses.
- What is the status of HR99?
- Passed both chambers as of April 2, 2026. Latest action: Resolution adopted in final form. (April 2, 2026).
- Who sponsored HR99?
- Sam Kong (D, HD-033).
- Where is the official record for HR99?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HR&billnumber=99&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.