HB 1894HawaiiProcess complete

Schools would provide braille services through student education plans

Upon approval, Hawaii’s education department would provide braille services, materials, and related information through plans for eligible students with low vision or blindness.

What it does

Eligible students with low vision or blindness would receive an opportunity for braille assessment, instruction, and materials through their education plans, unless a documented team decision finds them inappropriate.

The education department would provide validated reading tools, needed braille materials, and information about braille and assistive technology, while helping develop students’ education plans.

When requested, the education department would share needed information with human services for the state’s register of blind people and explain available educational support.

Argument forStudents and families could receive clearer access to braille assessments, instruction, materials, and assistive-technology information through education planning.

Argument againstRequired assessments and written explanations for exceptions could add work for school teams and may delay decisions about a student’s services.

More detail

The Department of Education would ensure that each eligible student’s Section 504 plan or individualized education program offers braille educational services. The provision covers eligible students with low vision or blindness, including students whose plans use Section 504 or special-education rules. Braille educational services include assessing reading and writing needs, teaching braille, and providing braille materials. The student’s plan must consider approved assessments of reading, writing, and the best reading medium. Braille teaching and materials may be omitted when the responsible plan team documents that they are not appropriate based on the required assessments. The provisions would take effect upon approval of the Act.

The Department of Education would provide braille literacy support services and information to eligible students and their families. Support would include validated reading assessments, braille materials needed for student plans, information about braille and assistive technology, and participation in education-plan development. The department would prefer in-state suppliers for braille materials when possible. The department would provide information to students, parents or legal guardians, and students when appropriate. The department may adopt administrative rules to carry out these provisions. The provisions would take effect upon approval of the Act.

The Department of Education would cooperate with the Department of Human Services when requested to provide information for the state register of blind people. The duty concerns information needed to maintain the register described in section 347-6 and applies when the Department of Human Services requests it. The supplied text also directs the education department to provide information about educational options and assistive technology to eligible students and their families. The text does not state what information must be shared or set a separate deadline. The provision would take effect upon approval of the Act.

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 HouseMar 6
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 243, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1345).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 243, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1345).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, McKelvey, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - 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 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, Lee, M., La Chica, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 178-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 178-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
15. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229.
16. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:35PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).Minor
18. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; McKelvey, Kidani Co-Chairs; DeCorte.
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Woodson, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; La Chica, Olds, Souza.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
21. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
22. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
23. Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
24. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 638) in amended form (SD 1).
25. Apr 10Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3707) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
27. Apr 8The 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, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
29. Mar 30Reported from EDU/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3389) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
30. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
31. Mar 25The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
32. Mar 25The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.Minor
33. Mar 20The committee(s) on EDU/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-26 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
34. Mar 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 164).Minor
35. Mar 10Passed First Reading.Minor
36. Mar 10Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.Minor
37. Mar 6Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 955-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 6Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
39. Mar 3The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
40. Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
41. Feb 19Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 519-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
42. Feb 19Passed 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 none excused (0).Minor
43. Feb 17The 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, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
44. Feb 13Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 02-17-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
45. Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
46. Jan 26Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 2Minor
47. Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced

EducationDisability RightsTechnology

Issue with this bill?

HB 1894HawaiiProcess complete

Schools would provide braille services through student education plans

Upon approval, Hawaii’s education department would provide braille services, materials, and related information through plans for eligible students with low vision or blindness.

What it does

The education department would provide validated reading tools, needed braille materials, and information about braille and assistive technology, while helping develop students’ education plans.

When requested, the education department would share needed information with human services for the state’s register of blind people and explain available educational support.

Argument forStudents and families could receive clearer access to braille assessments, instruction, materials, and assistive-technology information through education planning.

Argument againstRequired assessments and written explanations for exceptions could add work for school teams and may delay decisions about a student’s services.

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 HouseMar 6
Passed SenateApr 14
To Governor
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 243, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1345).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 243, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1345).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, McKelvey, Kidani, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - 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 1The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, Lee, M., La Chica, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 178-26) as amended in (CD 1).
11. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
12. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 178-26).
13. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
14. Apr 30Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:30PM in conference room 229.
15. Apr 29Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-30-26 1:30PM; Conference Room 229.
16. Apr 27Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Tuesday, 04-28-26 1:35PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).Minor
18. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; McKelvey, Kidani Co-Chairs; DeCorte.
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Woodson, Lee, M. Co-Chairs; La Chica, Olds, Souza.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
21. Apr 17Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).Minor
22. Apr 16House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
23. Apr 14Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
24. Apr 14Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 638) in amended form (SD 1).
25. Apr 10Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3707) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 10One Day Notice 04-14-26.
27. Apr 8The 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, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 6The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-08-26 10:02AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
29. Mar 30Reported from EDU/HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3389) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
30. Mar 30Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
31. Mar 25The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
32. Mar 25The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.Minor
33. Mar 20The committee(s) on EDU/HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 03-25-26 1:10PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
34. Mar 10Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 164).Minor
35. Mar 10Passed First Reading.Minor
36. Mar 10Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.Minor
37. Mar 6Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 955-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 6Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
39. Mar 3The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
40. Feb 27Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Tuesday, 03-03-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
41. Feb 19Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 519-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
42. Feb 19Passed 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 none excused (0).Minor
43. Feb 17The 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, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
44. Feb 13Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 02-17-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
45. Jan 26Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
46. Jan 26Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 2Minor
47. Jan 23Pending introduction.Introduced

EducationDisability RightsTechnology

Issue with this bill?

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History