SB 2613HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii assigns school land ownership and allows longer property use

Hawaii recognizes education department ownership of listed school lands from July 1, 2022, and requires two land transfers involving counties.

What it does

Transfers of listed school lands to the Department of Education are effective as of July 1, 2022. The department may take whole parcels or portions; owners must record documents confirming the transfers.

The education department must transfer one Wilcox Elementary School parcel to Kauai County. Honolulu must transfer the Kaimuki Middle School parcel to the department. Both recipients accept existing conditions and waive related claims.

The Department of Education can allow school property use lasting more than one year without land board approval. Recreation and community use must not disrupt normal school activities.

Argument forRecognizing school land ownership before deeds are recorded could help public agencies resolve ownership questions while they finish the paperwork.

Argument againstAllowing school property uses longer than one year without land board approval could reduce independent review of arrangements affecting schools and neighbors.

More detail

The law identifies school lands for transfer to the Department of Education and recognizes its ownership before transfer documents are recorded. These rules cover the listed properties owned by Kauai County, Maui County, and the State. Transfers include existing improvements but exclude underwater land, land added along the shore, and land seaward of the legal shoreline. The department accepts the properties as they are and gives up past, present, and future claims against their former owners about property conditions. Ownership and references to the property owner take effect as of July 1, 2022, whether or not transfer documents have been recorded.

The Department of Education must transfer one Wilcox Elementary School parcel to Kauai County. The City and County of Honolulu must transfer the Kaimuki Middle School parcel to the department. The parcels are Wilcox tax map key (4)3-6-002:010 and Kaimuki tax map key (1)3-2-059:002. Tax map keys identify specific pieces of land. Each receiving agency must accept the property as it is and give up past, present, and future claims against the transferring agency about property conditions. These transfers are exempt from the state tax on property transfers. The transfer requirements took effect when the law was approved on June 24, 2026.

The Department of Education may allow school property uses lasting more than one year without approval from the Board of Land and Natural Resources. This authority covers permission to use public school buildings and grounds. Recreation and community use must not interfere with normal school activities or students. The department decides how long the permitted use may last. This authority took effect when the law was approved on June 24, 2026.

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Where it stands

IntroducedJan 23
Passed SenateMar 6
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJun 24

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 24Act 139, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1240).Latest
2. Jun 24Act 139, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1240).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:00PM in conference room 229.
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
9. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 5:00PM in conference room 229.
10. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, Lee, M., Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem.Minor
11. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 233-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 233-26) as amended in (CD 1).
15. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
16. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 29Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 1:37PM in conference room 229.
18. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
19. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:35PM in conference room 229.
20. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Woodson, Hashem, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
21. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
22. Apr 20Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Lee, C., Kidani Co-Chairs; DeCorte.
23. Apr 20Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).Minor
24. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 682).Minor
25. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
26. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
27. Apr 14Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3. Result: pass.Lower
28. Apr 9Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2021-26) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading.
29. Apr 9Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
30. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
31. Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
32. Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
33. Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
34. Mar 30Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1527-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 30Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
36. Mar 24The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
37. Mar 20Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1292-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
39. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
40. Mar 19The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
41. Mar 17Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Thursday, 03-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
42. Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
43. Mar 10Referred to EDN, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
44. Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
45. Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 72) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
46. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2868) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
47. Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
48. Mar 3The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
49. Feb 27The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
50. Feb 19Reported from EDU/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2478) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
51. Feb 19Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
52. Feb 13The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
53. Feb 13The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.Minor
54. Feb 10The committee(s) on EDU/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
55. Jan 28Referred to EDU/WLA, WAM.Minor
56. Jan 23Introduced.Minor
57. Jan 23Passed First Reading.Introduced

EducationGovernment & Ethics

Issue with this bill?

SB 2613HawaiiProcess complete

Hawaii assigns school land ownership and allows longer property use

Hawaii recognizes education department ownership of listed school lands from July 1, 2022, and requires two land transfers involving counties.

What it does

The Department of Education can allow school property use lasting more than one year without land board approval. Recreation and community use must not disrupt normal school activities.

Argument forRecognizing school land ownership before deeds are recorded could help public agencies resolve ownership questions while they finish the paperwork.

Argument againstAllowing school property uses longer than one year without land board approval could reduce independent review of arrangements affecting schools and neighbors.

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 23
Passed SenateMar 6
Passed HouseApr 14
To GovernorMay 8
Became LawJun 24

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jun 24Act 139, 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1240).Latest
2. Jun 24Act 139, on 06/24/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1240).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 8Enrolled to Governor.To Governor
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Alcos excused (1).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 4:00PM in conference room 229.
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
9. May 1Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 5:00PM in conference room 229.
10. May 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, Lee, M., Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hashem.Minor
11. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..Minor
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 233-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
14. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 233-26) as amended in (CD 1).
15. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
16. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 29Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Thursday 04-30-26 1:37PM in conference room 229.
18. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
19. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:35PM in conference room 229.
20. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Woodson, Hashem, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; Muraoka.
21. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 787).Minor
22. Apr 20Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Lee, C., Kidani Co-Chairs; DeCorte.
23. Apr 20Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 714).Minor
24. Apr 16Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 682).Minor
25. Apr 16Senate disagrees with House amendments.Minor
26. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).Minor
27. Apr 14Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3 with Representative(s) Cochran voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 3. Result: pass.Lower
28. Apr 9Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2021-26) as amended in HD 3, recommending passage on Third Reading.
29. Apr 9Forty-eight (48) hours notice Tuesday, 04-14-26.
30. Apr 7The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
31. Apr 2The committee(s) on FIN recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 04-07-26.Minor
32. Apr 2Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 04-07-26 10:10AM in conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
33. Mar 31Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Thursday, 04-02-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
34. Mar 30Reported from WAL (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1527-26) as amended in HD 2, recommending referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2. Result: pass.Lower
35. Mar 30Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).Minor
36. Mar 24The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Hashem, Morikawa, Ichiyama, Iwamoto, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Belatti.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on WAL recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
37. Mar 20Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1292-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to WAL.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 20Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on WAL with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).Minor
39. Mar 20Bill scheduled to be heard by WAL on Tuesday, 03-24-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
40. Mar 19The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
41. Mar 17Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Thursday, 03-19-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
42. Mar 10Pass First ReadingMinor
43. Mar 10Referred to EDN, WAL, FIN, referral sheet 16Minor
44. Mar 6Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
45. Mar 6Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 72) in amended form (SD 1).Minor
46. Mar 5Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2868) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
47. Mar 5One Day Notice 03-06-26.
48. Mar 3The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
49. Feb 27The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 03-03-26 10:17AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
50. Feb 19Reported from EDU/WLA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2478) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
51. Feb 19Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
52. Feb 13The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WLA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Inouye, Lamosao, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Chang.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WLA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
53. Feb 13The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga.Minor
54. Feb 10The committee(s) on EDU/WLA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
55. Jan 28Referred to EDU/WLA, WAM.Minor
56. Jan 23Introduced.Minor
57. Jan 23Passed First Reading.Introduced

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What it does

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Looking ahead

History

What it does

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More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History