2025 Regular Session • Hawaii Legislature
HB620: Relating To Education.
Legislative Summary
Establishes braille literacy as a policy of the State. Requires literacy assessments for eligible low vision and blind students to include braille instruction and the use of braille. Authorizes the Department of Education to adopt administrative rules. Establishes the Braille Literacy Resource Center. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)
Demographic Impact
Overall analysis of equity impact
80% Positive
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Bill History
1/17/2025
Pending introduction.
House of Representatives
1/21/2025
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
House of Representatives
1/21/2025
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 2
House of Representatives
1/31/2025
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 02-04-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
House of Representatives
2/4/2025
The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
House of Representatives
2/11/2025
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 346) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
House of Representatives
2/11/2025
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
House of Representatives
2/24/2025
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-26-25 10:50AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
House of Representatives
2/26/2025
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
House of Representatives
2/28/2025
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1101), recommending passage on Third Reading.
House of Representatives
3/4/2025
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
House of Representatives
3/6/2025
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 260).
Senate
3/6/2025
Passed First Reading.
Senate
3/6/2025
Referred to EDU, WAM.
Senate
3/7/2025
The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-10-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
Senate
3/10/2025
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Senate
3/14/2025
Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1088) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
Senate
3/14/2025
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Senate
3/27/2025
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-02-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
Senate
4/2/2025
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
Senate
4/4/2025
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1683) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
Senate
4/4/2025
One Day Notice 04-08-25.
Senate
4/8/2025
Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
Senate
4/8/2025
Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 659) in amended form (SD 1).
House of Representatives
4/10/2025
House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
House of Representatives
4/11/2025
Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 704).
Senate
4/14/2025
House Conferees Appointed: Woodson, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Souza.
House of Representatives
4/15/2025
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 732).
Senate
4/23/2025
Senate Conferees Appointed: Kidani Chair; Kim Co-Chair; Kanuha, DeCorte.
Senate
4/23/2025
Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-24-25 3:05PM in conference room 229.
House of Representatives
4/23/2025
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 873).
House of Representatives
4/24/2025
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 1:30PM in conference room 229.
House of Representatives
4/25/2025
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 2:50PM in conference room 229.
House of Representatives
4/25/2025
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 4:40PM in conference room 229.
House of Representatives
4/25/2025
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 5:35PM in conference room 229.
House of Representatives
4/25/2025
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 5:55PM in conference room 229.
House of Representatives
4/25/2025
Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 04-25-25 6:20PM in conference room 229.
House of Representatives
Roll Call Votes
Senate Ways and Means: Passed, Unamended
4/2/2025
13
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Senate Education: Passed, With Amendments
3/10/2025
5
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED
Status Information
Current Status
Engrossed(3/4/2025)
Chamber
House of Representatives
Sponsors
Democrat: 17
Republican: 2
Primary Sponsor
Justin Woodson
Democrat
Co-Sponsors (18)
Terez Amato
Democrat
Cory Chun
Democrat
Tina Grandinetti
Democrat
Daniel Holt
Democrat
Kirstin Kahaloa
Democrat
Darius Kila
Democrat
Trish La Chica
Democrat
Mike Lee
Democrat
Lisa Marten
Democrat
Lauren Matsumoto
Republican
Daynette Morikawa
Democrat
Amy Perruso
Democrat
Elijah Pierick
Republican
Mahina Poepoe
Democrat
Jenna Takenouchi
Democrat
Adrian Tam
Democrat
David Tarnas
Democrat
Chris Todd
Democrat