HB 2122: DOE; Teacher Housing Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-03-25
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-03-30: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of Education to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2122 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
S.D. 1 |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that approximately ten per cent of the State's teachers switch schools, relocate, or leave the profession each year. Only fifty to sixty per cent of current teachers have been at their school for five years or more. Chronic teacher turnover forces the department of education to rely on emergency hires and substitute teachers to fill vacancies. The legislature further finds that teacher recruitment and retention are especially difficult at hard‑to‑staff schools.
The legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's high cost of living is a significant contributing factor in the department of education's teacher recruitment and retention efforts. According to a WalletHub study, Hawaii ranked fifty-first out of fifty states and the District of Columbia for starting teacher salary and median teacher salary, adjusted for cost of living.
The purpose of this Act is to alleviate the financial burden on teachers and improve teacher recruitment and retention by establishing a teacher housing assistance program to provide housing vouchers to qualified full-time teachers who are employed by the department of education or a charter school and teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the department, including public charter schools.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III, subpart E, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Teacher housing assistance program. (a) There is established a teacher housing assistance program to be administered by the department to provide housing vouchers to eligible teachers. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available housing vouchers, housing vouchers shall be provided to eligible teachers through a lottery process.
(b) A housing voucher provided under this section shall be used for:
(1) Rent for the eligible teacher's primary residence;
(2) Mortgage payments for the eligible teacher's primary residence; or
(3) Down payment on residential real property; provided that the property shall be the eligible teacher's primary residence.
(c) Upon the establishment of the teacher housing assistance program, the department shall develop application processes, procedures, and forms necessary to implement and maintain the program. The department shall work with the state public charter school commission to develop a process to verify that an eligible charter school teacher satisfies the criteria listed in subsection (i).
(d) Applications for housing vouchers shall be made to the department and contain the information required by rules adopted by the department. At a minimum, the applicant shall:
(1) Be an eligible teacher;
(2) Agree to use state funds exclusively for the purposes of this section;
(3) Indicate capability to properly use the voucher for the purposes of this section;
(4) Comply with other requirements as the department may require;
(5) Comply with all applicable federal, state, and county laws, rules, and ordinances;
(6) Agree to indemnify and save harmless the State and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from the use of vouchers pursuant to this section, and procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the department; and
(7) Agree to make available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the voucher, to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this section.
(e) If a voucher recipient fails to satisfy the work requirements in accordance with subsection (i)(4), the recipient shall repay the total amount of voucher funds received as a loan repayable to the department. The repayment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set by the department, including circumstances under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to hardship or inability to secure employment and potential fees relating to the collection of delinquent repayment.
(f) Voucher funds repaid by the voucher recipient pursuant to subsection (e) shall be deposited into the teachers' housing revolving fund established pursuant to section 302A-833.
(g) In accordance with chapter 103D, the department may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent repayment of vouchers owed to the department pursuant to subsection (e). A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the department to collect delinquent voucher repayments pursuant to this section may collect a fee from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract.
(h) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section.
(i) For the purposes of this section, "eligible teacher" means a person who:
(1) Is a full-time teacher;
(2) Has taught at a public school or public charter school in the State for at least one year before the application date;
(3) Is employed by the department or a public charter school;
(4) Commits to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the department, or a public charter school for no less than five consecutive years;
(5) Resides in the State;
(6) Does not own, operate, rent, or control any residential real property in addition to the eligible teacher's primary residence for which the housing voucher is sought; and
(7) Has a household income below eighty per cent of the area median income."
SECTION 3. Section 302A-833, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The revolving fund may be used by the
department of education for any and all of the purposes of teachers' housing,
including the [planning,]:
(1) Planning,
construction, maintenance, and operation of teachers' housing[, as well as
for the salaries];
(2) Teacher housing assistance program pursuant to section 302A- ; and
(3) Salaries of the necessary personnel in charge thereof."
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the teachers' housing revolving fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the provision of housing vouchers through the teacher housing assistance program established by this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 31, 2055.
Report Title:
DOE; Teacher Housing Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to be administered by the Department of Education to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/31/2055. (SD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2122 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that approximately ten per cent of the State's teachers switch schools, relocate, or leave the profession each year. Only fifty to sixty per cent of current teachers have been at their school for five years or more. Chronic teacher turnover forces the department of education to rely on emergency hires and substitute teachers to fill vacancies. The legislature further finds that teacher recruitment and retention are especially difficult at hard-to-staff schools.
The legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's high cost of living is a significant contributing factor in the department of education's teacher recruitment and retention efforts. According to a WalletHub study, Hawaii ranked fifty-first out of fifty states and the District of Columbia for starting teacher salary and median teacher salary, adjusted for cost of living.
The purpose of this Act is to alleviate the financial burden on teachers and improve teacher recruitment and retention by establishing a teacher housing assistance program to provide housing vouchers to qualified full-time teachers who are employed by the department of education or a charter school and teach at a hard to staff school, as determined by the department, including public charter schools.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart E, part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Teacher housing assistance program. (a) There is established a teacher housing assistance program to be administered by the department to provide housing vouchers to eligible teachers. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available housing vouchers, housing vouchers shall be provided to eligible teachers through a lottery process.
(b) A housing voucher provided under this section shall be used for:
(1) Rent for the eligible teacher's primary residence;
(2) Mortgage payments for the eligible teacher's primary residence; or
(3) Down payment on residential real property; provided that the property shall be the eligible teacher's primary residence.
(c) Upon the establishment of the teacher housing assistance program, the department shall develop an application procedure and processes, procedures, and forms necessary to implement and maintain the program. The department shall work with the state public charter school commission to develop a process to verify that an eligible charter school teacher satisfies the criteria listed in subsection (i).
(d) Applications for housing vouchers shall be made to the department and contain the information required by rules adopted by the department. At a minimum, the applicant shall:
(1) Be an eligible teacher;
(2) Agree to use state funds exclusively for the purposes of this section;
(3) Indicate capability to properly use the voucher for the purposes of this section;
(4) Comply with other requirements as the department may require;
(5) Comply with all applicable federal, state, and county laws, rules, and ordinances;
(6) Agree to indemnify and save harmless the State and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from the use of vouchers pursuant to this section, and procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the department; and
(7) Agree to make available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the voucher, to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this section.
(e) If a voucher recipient fails to satisfy the work requirements in accordance with subsection (i)(4), the recipient shall repay the total amount of voucher funds received as a loan repayable to the department. The repayment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set by the department, including circumstances under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to hardship or inability to secure employment and potential fees relating to the collection of delinquent repayment.
(f) Voucher funds repaid by the voucher recipient pursuant to subsection (e) shall be deposited into the teachers' housing revolving fund established pursuant to section 302A-833.
(g) In accordance with chapter 103D, the department may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent repayment of vouchers owed to the department pursuant to subsection (e). A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the department to collect delinquent voucher repayments pursuant to this section may collect a fee from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract.
(h) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section.
(i) For the purposes of this section, "eligible teacher" means a person who:
(1) Is a full-time teacher;
(2) Has taught at a public school or public charter school in the State for at least one year before the application date;
(3) Is employed by the department or a public charter school;
(4) Commits to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the department, or a public charter school for no less than five consecutive years;
(5) Resides in the State;
(6) Does not own, operate, rent, or control any residential real property in addition to the eligible teacher's primary residence for which the housing voucher is sought; and
(7) Has a household income below eighty per cent of the area median income."
SECTION 3. Section 302A-833, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The revolving fund may be used by the
department of education for any and all of the purposes of teachers' housing,
including the [planning,]:
(1) Planning,
construction, maintenance, and operation of teachers' housing[, as well as
for the salaries];
(2) Teacher housing assistance program pursuant to section 302A- ; and
(3) Salaries of the necessary personnel in charge thereof."
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the teachers' housing revolving fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the provision of housing vouchers through the teacher housing assistance program established by this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Teacher Housing Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
2122 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to teacher housing.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that approximately ten per cent of the State's teachers switch schools, relocate, or leave the profession each year. Only fifty to sixty per cent of current teachers have been at their school for five years or more. Chronic teacher turnover forces the department of education to rely on emergency hires and substitute teachers to fill vacancies. The legislature further finds that teacher recruitment and retention are especially difficult at hard-to-staff schools.
The legislature additionally finds that Hawaii's high cost of living is a significant contributing factor in the department of education's teacher recruitment and retention efforts. According to a WalletHub study, Hawaii ranked fifty-first out of fifty states and the District of Columbia for starting teacher salary and median teacher salary, adjusted for cost of living.
The purpose of this Act is to alleviate the financial burden on teachers and improve teacher recruitment and retention by establishing a teacher housing assistance program to provide housing vouchers to qualified full-time teachers who are employed by the department of education or a charter school and teach at a hard to staff school, as determined by the department, including public charter schools.
SECTION 2. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to subpart E, part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:
"§302A- Teacher housing assistance program. (a) There is established a teacher housing assistance program to be administered by the department to provide housing vouchers to eligible teachers. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available housing vouchers, housing vouchers shall be provided to eligible teachers through a lottery process.
(b) A housing voucher provided under this section shall be used for:
(1) Rent for the eligible teacher's primary residence;
(2) Mortgage payments for the eligible teacher's primary residence; or
(3) Down payment on residential real property; provided that the property shall be the eligible teacher's primary residence.
(c) A housing voucher shall not exceed $700 per month or the eligible teacher's monthly rent or mortgage payment, whichever is less. A housing voucher granted pursuant to this section shall be applicable for one year. The voucher shall be renewable for one additional year.
(d) Upon the establishment of the teacher housing assistance program, the department shall develop an application procedure and processes, procedures, and forms necessary to implement and maintain the program. The department shall work with the state public charter school commission to develop a process to verify that an eligible charter school teacher satisfies the criteria listed in subsection (j).
(e) Applications for housing vouchers shall be made to the department and contain the information required by rules adopted by the department. At a minimum, the applicant shall:
(1) Be an eligible teacher;
(2) Agree to use state funds exclusively for the purposes of this section;
(3) Indicate capability to properly use the voucher for the purposes of this section;
(4) Comply with other requirements as the department may require;
(5) Comply with all applicable federal, state, and county laws, rules, and ordinances;
(6) Agree to indemnify and save harmless the State and its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and all claims arising out of or resulting from the use of vouchers pursuant to this section, and procure sufficient insurance to provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the department; and
(7) Agree to make available to the department all records the applicant may have relating to the voucher, to allow state agencies to monitor the applicant's compliance with this section.
(f) If a voucher recipient fails to satisfy the work requirements in accordance with subsection (j)(4), the recipient shall repay the total amount of voucher funds received as a loan repayable to the department. The repayment shall be subject to the terms and conditions set by the department, including circumstances under which recipients may be eligible for deferment or forgiveness due to hardship or inability to secure employment and potential fees relating to the collection of delinquent repayment.
(g) Voucher funds repaid by the voucher recipient pursuant to subsection (f) shall be deposited into the teachers' housing revolving fund established pursuant to section 302A-833.
(h) In accordance with chapter 103D, the department may enter into written contracts with collection agencies to collect delinquent repayment of vouchers owed to the department pursuant to subsection (f). A collection agency that enters into a written contract with the department to collect delinquent voucher repayments pursuant to this section may collect a fee from the debtor in accordance with the terms of, and up to the amounts authorized in, the written contract.
(i) The department may adopt rules pursuant to chapter 91 to effectuate the purpose of this section.
(j) For the purposes of this section, "eligible teacher" means a person who:
(1) Is a full-time teacher;
(2) Has taught at a public school or public charter school in the State for at least one year before the application date;
(3) Is employed by the department or a public charter school;
(4) Commits to teach at a hard-to-staff school, as determined by the department, or a public charter school for no less than five consecutive years;
(5) Resides in the State;
(6) Does not own, operate, rent, or control any residential real property in addition to the eligible teacher's primary residence for which the housing voucher is sought; and
(7) Has a household income below eighty per cent of the area median income."
SECTION 3. Section 302A-833, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
"(b) The revolving fund may be used by the
department of education for any and all of the purposes of teachers' housing,
including the [planning,]:
(1) Planning,
construction, maintenance, and operation of teachers' housing[, as well as
for the salaries];
(2) Teacher housing assistance program pursuant to section 302A- ; and
(3) Salaries of the necessary personnel in charge thereof."
SECTION 4. There is appropriated out of the teachers' housing revolving fund the sum of $ or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the provision of housing vouchers through the teacher housing assistance program established by this Act.
The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of education for the purposes of this Act.
SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Teacher Housing Assistance Program; Teacher Recruitment and Retention; Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers. Appropriates funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Mar 30, 2026 | Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM. |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3268) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM. |
| Mar 20, 2026 | 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, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga. |
| Mar 17, 2026 | The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-20-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference. |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Referred to EDU, WAM. |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Passed First Reading. |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 187). |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate. |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 950-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. |
| Mar 4, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Mar 2, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0). |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Reported from HSG (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 561-26), recommending referral to FIN. |
| Feb 18, 2026 | The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Evslin, Miyake, Cochran, Grandinetti, Kila, Kitagawa, La Chica, Muraoka, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Wednesday, 02-18-26 10:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Friday 02-13-26 9:00AM in conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by HSG on Friday, 02-13-26 9:00AM in House conference room 430 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HSG with Representative(s) Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Woodson excused (1). |
| Feb 5, 2026 | Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 24-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSG. |
| Feb 3, 2026 | The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Jan 30, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 02-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 28, 2026 | Referred to EDN, HSG, FIN, referral sheet 4 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 23, 2026 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Mar 20, 2026 | The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | Senate Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
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| Mar 6, 2026 | Third Reading | House Floor |
Passed |
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| Mar 4, 2026 | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Finance |
Passed |
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| Feb 18, 2026 | The committee on HSG recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Housing |
Passed |
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| Feb 3, 2026 | The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Education |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| Aloha United Way | ** Support | |
| Aloha United Way | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Chamber of Commerce Hawaii | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Democratic Party of Hawai’i Education Caucus | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Hawaii State Department of Education | *** Against | Feb 17, 2026 |
| Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association | *** Support | Mar 4, 2026 |
| Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association (HSTA) | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Housing Hawaiʻi's Future | ** Support | |
| KumuKonnect | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Office of Collective Bargaining | ** Against | |
| Office of Collective Bargaining | *** Against | Mar 20, 2026 |
| State Public Charter School Commission | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Teach for America Hawai'i | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
| Teach for America Hawaiʻi | *** Support | Mar 20, 2026 |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 950-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2122
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2122, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Housing Hawaiʻi's Future; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; KumuKonnect; Aloha United Way; and three individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2122, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,
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____________________________ CHRIS TODD, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 561-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2122
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred H.B. No. 2122, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Housing Hawaiʻi's Future; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; KumuKonnect; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of Collective Bargaining. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.
Your Committee finds that there is a severe shortage of qualified teachers in the State. Major contributing factors to this shortage are Hawaii's high cost of living and the lack of affordable housing. Your Committee further finds that many teachers who have resigned cited the high cost of housing as the primary reason for leaving the State. Your Committee believes that the Teacher Housing Assistance Program proposed by this measure is an important step toward attracting and retaining qualified teachers for the State's keiki.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2122, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,
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____________________________ LUKE A. EVSLIN, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 24-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 2122
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 2122 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TEACHER HOUSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to:
(1) Establish the Teacher Housing Assistance Program to provide housing vouchers to certain eligible teachers; and
(2) Appropriate funds out of the Teachers' Housing Revolving Fund for the Program.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; and Aloha United Way. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Education and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO.
Your Committee finds that the State is facing a severe shortage of qualified teachers. Your Committee further finds that high cost of living and lack of affordable housing are major contributing factors to the teacher shortage. Your Committee believes that providing housing vouchers to qualifying teachers through the Teacher Housing Assistance Program will help alleviate the financial burden on teachers in obtaining housing.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Deleting language that would have established the amount of, and applicability for, a housing voucher;
(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2122, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2122, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Housing.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Mar 20, 2026 | HB2122_HD1_TESTIMONY_EDU_03-20-26_.PDF |
| Mar 4, 2026 | HB2122_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_03-04-26_.PDF |
| Feb 17, 2026 | HB2122_HD1_TESTIMONY_HSG_02-18-26_.PDF |
| Feb 3, 2026 | HB2122_TESTIMONY_EDN_02-03-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
18MIN
Senate Standing Committee on Education
39SEC
Senate Standing Committee on Education
53SEC
House Standing Committee on Finance
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Housing
33SEC
House Standing Committee on Housing
1MIN
House Standing Committee on Education
44SEC
