Bill > SB2550

This bill establishes a school modernization initiative to address the aging and often outdated condition of Hawaii's school facilities, which are valued at approximately $10.5 billion and have an average building age of seventy-two years. The initiative, managed by the School Facilities Authority (SFA), will create a capital improvement project planning database for all school facilities statewide. This database will include an inventory of school properties, a rating system for facility conditions updated at least every five years, and data on student enrollment versus school capacity, updated annually. The information will be organized by legislative district and complex area to help lawmakers and community members understand local needs and will be publicly accessible online. The SFA will use this data to identify, assess, and prioritize school facility projects, categorizing them into critical infrastructure needs (like fire alarms, roofing, or HVAC systems), addressing capacity issues (new classrooms or buildings), enhancing functional adequacy (administrative or athletic spaces), and ensuring compliance with laws. Annually, by August 15th, the SFA will report to the legislature, governor, and education board on the status of school facilities, prioritized project lists, and recommendations for optimizing school capacity. The bill also appropriates $4 million from general revenues to the school facilities special fund and another $4 million from that fund to establish the school modernization initiative, with the Act taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2550&year=2026