Bill > HB1778

This bill establishes a school modernization initiative managed by the School Facilities Authority (SFA) to create a comprehensive capital improvement project planning database for all school facilities statewide, aiming to bring transparency and a data-driven approach to how school construction projects are funded and prioritized, especially given the aging infrastructure and challenging construction climate in Hawaii. The initiative will involve creating an asset inventory of school properties, a facilities condition index to rate the state of buildings, and data on enrollment versus capacity, all organized by legislative district and complex area for public and legislative access. Based on this data, the SFA will identify, assess, and prioritize school facility projects, categorizing them into critical infrastructure needs, addressing capacity issues, enhancing functional adequacy for educational programs, and ensuring compliance with laws. The SFA will then submit an annual report to the legislature and other officials detailing this information, including prioritized project lists and analysis on capacity utilization, to aid in statewide planning and decision-making regarding school facilities, and will also report to the Board of Education to assist with decisions on opening, closing, or repurposing schools. The bill also appropriates funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to establish this initiative and take effect on July 1, 3000.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1778&year=2026