Bill > SB2814

This bill establishes a dedicated "preventive maintenance special fund" within the Department of Education to ensure consistent funding for the upkeep of public school facilities, recognizing that regular maintenance is crucial to prevent deterioration and avoid costly emergency repairs, especially since general obligation bond funds, often used for major construction, cannot be used for routine maintenance. The fund will be used for scheduled inspections, servicing, and repairs of building systems like roofing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and structural components, as well as for activities that meet health and safety standards and extend the lifespan of school buildings. The Department of Education will administer this fund and must submit an annual report to the Legislature detailing how the money was spent, the projects funded, and future maintenance needs. The bill also appropriates $75,000,000 from general revenues to seed this fund for the fiscal year 2026-2027, and another $75,000,000 from the fund itself for preventive maintenance activities during that same fiscal year, with the Act taking effect on July 1, 2026.

Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2814&year=2026