Hawaii SCR31: Requesting the Department of Transportation, in Coordination with the Department of Education, to Evaluate and Recommend Improvements to the Licensing, Training, and Workforce Pipeline for School Bus Drivers in the State.

What the bill says

From the introduced text:

THE SENATE -- fV \ l) THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 ____________________________ MAR I 0 2026___________ SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO EVALUATE AND RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LICENSING, TRAINING, AND WORKFORCE PIPELINE FOR SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS IN THE STATE. WHEREAS, reliable school transportation is essential to ensuring equitable access to public education for students across the State, particularly in rural and neighbor island communities; and WHEREAS, persistent shortages of qualified school bus drivers have resulted in route cancellations, service disruptions, and barriers to consistent school attendance for many students; and WHEREAS, transportation disruptions disproportionately affect students with disabilities, students living in rural areas, and families with limited access to alternative transportation; and WHEREAS, the Legislature has considered measures to strengthen recruitment, training, and retention of school bus drivers, including financial incentives and workforce development programs; and WHEREAS, testimony submitted to the Legislature has identified structural limitations within the current student transportation model that affect implementation of certain workforce initiatives, including that school bus drivers are employees of private transportation contractors rather than the State; and WHEREAS, stakeholders and community testimony have also identified barriers to entering the profession, including challenges related to commercial driver's licensing access, testing availability, training coordination, and geographic 2026-1348 SCR SMA.docx Page S.C.R. NO. inequities in licensing …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Dru Kanuha (D, 3) · primary sponsor
• Stanley Chang (D, 9)
• Lynn DeCoite (D, 7)
• Troy Hashimoto (D, 5)
• Lorraine Inouye (D, 1)
• Lamosao, Rachele (D, 19)
• Angus McKelvey (D, 6)
• Tim Richards (D, SD-004)
• Joy San Buenaventura (D, 2)
• Les Ihara (D, 10)
• Glenn Wakai (D, 15)

Latest actions

1. May 12, 2026: Certified copies of resolutions sent, 05-12-26.
2. April 17, 2026: Resolution adopted in final form.
3. April 17, 2026: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 781).
4. April 16, 2026: Transmitted to Senate.
5. April 16, 2026: Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
6. April 16, 2026: Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2167-26), recommending adoption.
7. April 15, 2026: The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Miyake, Evslin, Grandinetti, Kitagawa, La Chica, Cochran, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
8. April 13, 2026: Resolution scheduled to be heard by TRN on Wednesday, 04-15-26 10:05AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
9. April 10, 2026: Referred to TRN, referral sheet 27
10. April 8, 2026: Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 427).

Votes

• Adopted with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0) (April 16, 2026): 51 yea, 0 nay, passed
• TRN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 15, 2026): 9 yea, 0 nay, passed
• TRS: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (March 24, 2026): 5 yea, 0 nay, passed

Common questions

What is SCR31?

SCR31 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Requesting the Department of Transportation, in Coordination with the Department of Education, to Evaluate and Recommend Improvements to the Licensing, Training, and Workforce Pipeline for School Bus Drivers in the State.

What is the status of SCR31?

Passed both chambers as of April 17, 2026. Latest action: Certified copies of resolutions sent, 05-12-26. (May 12, 2026).

Who sponsored SCR31?

Dru Kanuha (D, 3), with 10 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for SCR31?

On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SCR&billnumber=31&year=2026