STAND. COM. REP. NO. 573

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 245

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 245, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STUDENT HEAT EXPOSURE SAFETY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to:

(1) Conduct a study on the current practices of managing heat exposure in state public and charter schools to protect students' health during outdoor activities; and

(2) Develop a plan if the current practices are insufficient in managing heat exposure.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawai‘i Public Health Association; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawai‘i Climate Change and Health Working Group; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that rising air temperatures and Hawaii's high average relative humidity pose a significant challenge to human thermoregulation, particularly for individuals exercising outdoors where high humidity reduces the efficacy of the body's ability to cool itself through sweating. Your Committee further finds that the dangers of exertional heat illness are particularly high for children, who have reduced thermoregulation capabilities and slower heat acclimatization compared to adults. Your Committee believes that creating data-driven state guidelines for managing heat during outdoor activities is a vital step in protecting Hawaii's children from the dangers of heat exposure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 245, 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 Health,

____________________________

GREGG TAKAYAMA, Chair