Bill > SB844

This bill authorizes school complexes in Hawaii to incorporate media literacy into their standards-based curriculum, with a specific focus on addressing the growing challenges of digital information and online behavior. The legislation aims to empower schools to teach students how to identify and prevent the negative impacts of misinformation, disinformation, digital discrimination, and online hate speech. The bill's context is rooted in the legislature's findings that these digital threats pose significant risks to democracy, including potential increases in real-world violence and the spread of false information, as evidenced by examples such as the COVID-19 vaccine misinformation (where over 78% of adults believed or were uncertain about false pandemic-related statements) and violent incidents linked to online hate speech. By adding a new subsection to existing education statutes, the bill gives school complexes the discretion to develop media literacy content that helps students become more informed and responsible digital citizens, ultimately supporting the broader goal of maintaining a healthy, equitable, and just democratic society.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=844&year=2026