STAND. COM. REP. NO. 731

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1391

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1391, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Education for teacher-requested classroom supplies.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that teachers nationwide spend an average of $500 in personal funds each year to supplement classroom supplies for their students. This measure will help alleviate the financial burden on Hawaii educators by providing funding for teacher-requested classroom supplies.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring a one-to-one match of state funds with private donations; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1391, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1391, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair