RATIONALE:
Hawaiʻi is getting hotter, and schools need clear, consistent protections to keep students safe during outdoor learning, recess, and sports. High temperatures combined with humidity increase the risk of heat illness, and these conditions are already affecting students across the state.
Children are especially vulnerable to heat-related illness. Their bodies heat up faster and cool down more slowly than adults, they spend significant time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day, and younger students may not recognize or communicate early warning signs. Students may also feel pressure to push through discomfort to avoid letting down a coach, teacher, or peers.
States that have adopted comprehensive heat safety guidelines have prevented severe heat illness and student deaths. Hawaiʻi has the opportunity to learn from these successes and make heat-related illness a “never event” in our schools, while giving educators and coaches the guidance and resources they need to keep students safe as the climate continues to warm
2026 Bills:
TAKE ACTION NOW:
Public hearings are an opportunity for the public to weigh in on bills being considered by lawmakers. Submitting testimony for these hearings is an important way to let lawmakers know your position on these important issues. All you need to do is share why you are in strong support (we have some talking points below to get you started!). Each hearing may have different lawmakers, so you must submit testimony each time there is a new hearing.
Hearing Information
Bill: HB 1803 HD1
Position: Strong Support
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Committee: House Committee on Finance
How to Submit Testimony
- Log-in /make an account on the Capitol website.
- Go to the bill page for HB 1803 HD1 and click on the “Submit Testimony” button.
- Upload or write your testimony in SUPPORT of the bill (It doesn’t need to be long!).
- Please submit testimony by Monday, March 2 at 2:00 PM (at least 24 hours in before the hearing) to ensure your testimony is received on-time and reviewed by the committee members! Late testimony will be accepted until the time of the hearing.
SAMPLE TESTIMONY:
Hawaiʻi is getting hotter, and our keiki are already feeling the effects. High temperatures combined with humidity make outdoor activities like recess, physical education, and sports more dangerous, especially for children. Kids’ bodies heat up faster than adults, they may not recognize early warning signs, and many feel pressure to push through discomfort instead of speaking up.
This bill is important because it gives schools clear guidance and the right tools to keep students safe. It would require statewide heat safety policies and ensure every public and charter school has funding to purchase a wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) thermometer. WBGT is the gold standard for heat safety because it measures heat the way the body actually experiences it, including temperature, humidity, sun, and wind, not just how hot it feels outside.
Other states have experienced tragic and preventable student deaths from heat illness. States that adopted strong heat safety guidelines have not seen these tragedies continue. We have the opportunity to learn from those lessons and make heat-related illness a “never event” in Hawaiʻi schools.
This bill is a practical, common-sense step to protect students, support educators and coaches, and help our schools adapt safely to a warming climate. Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in support of this bill.
TALKING POINTS:
- Hawaiʻi is getting hotter, and schools need clear guidance.
Hot and humid conditions are already affecting students during recess, PE, and sports. This bill gives schools clear, statewide guidance so decisions about outdoor activities are based on safety, not guesswork. - Kids are more vulnerable to heat than adults.
Children’s bodies heat up faster and cool down more slowly. Younger students may not recognize early symptoms or know when to speak up, and many feel pressure to push through discomfort. This bill helps protect students before heat exposure becomes dangerous. - It gives schools the right tools to make safer decisions.
The bill ensures every public and charter school has funding to purchase a wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) thermometer. WBGT is the gold standard for heat safety because it measures heat the way the body actually experiences it, not just air temperature. This helps schools know when to adjust or cancel outdoor activities. - It helps prevent tragedies before they happen.
Other states have lost students to heat-related illness, and we don’t want that to happen here. States that adopted strong heat safety policies have not seen student deaths since. This bill helps make heat-related illness a never event in Hawaiʻi schools.