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Hawaii · 2026 Regular Session · Bill

SB 799: RELATING TO THE FREEDOM TO READ.

In committee Official data

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed one chamber
  4. Passed both chambers
  5. Enacted

Last official action: ·Record last updated:

Plain-language summary

SB 799 is a bill introduced in the Hawaii Senate on January 17, 2025. According to its official title, it concerns: RELATING TO THE FREEDOM TO READ. Primary sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Stanley Chang (Democratic). It lists 2 additional sponsors. Most recent recorded action (December 8, 2025): Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.

Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Requires the Department of Education to select materials for inclusion, circulation, and exclusion in school library collections according to certain criteria. Requires the Department of Education to uphold the freedom to read. Prohibits the Department of Education from excluding books based on certain criteria. Requires the State Librarian to select materials for inclusion, circulation, and exclusion in school library collections according to certain criteria. Requires the State Librarian to uphold the freedom to read. Prohibits the State Librarian from excluding books based on certain criteria.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 4

NameRolePartyChamberDistrict
Karl RhoadsPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate13
Stanley ChangPrimary sponsorDemocraticSenate9
Carol FukunagaCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate11
Tim RichardsCo-sponsorDemocraticSenate4

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

  1. Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
  2. The committee on EDU deferred the measure.
  3. The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 3:02PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
  4. Referred to EDU, JDC.
  5. Passed First Reading.
  6. Introduced.

Sources

  1. Open States / Plural (data from the official legislature website)
  2. Official legislature source