HB1925 would authorize the Hawaii Department of Education to create a climate literacy certificate program for high school students. The program is intended to give students an advanced understanding of climate change through both classroom instruction and hands-on learning, with a focus on the economic and social impacts of climate change. To qualify, students would need to complete at least two approved courses that meet climate literacy standards and an experiential learning project.
The bill also allows the department to set program requirements, approve courses, issue certificates of completion, and adopt administrative rules. In addition, the department would be required to report to the Board of Education and the Legislature on approved courses and the number of certificates issued. The bill includes an unspecified general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support implementation, and it is currently drafted with an effective date of July 1, 3000.
Impact
If enacted, HB1925 would add a new section to Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, giving the Department of Education explicit authority to establish and administer a climate literacy certificate program. It would create a new state education initiative tied to climate change instruction, require reporting to policymakers, and authorize rulemaking under Chapter 91. The bill would also require a state appropriation to fund the program’s startup and operation, affecting the Department of Education, high school students, and any schools or courses approved for participation.
Sentiment
The available context suggests generally positive or supportive sentiment toward the bill’s educational and climate-focused goals, with the measure framed as preparing students to understand and respond to climate change. There is no committee transcript or recorded vote history provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or debate in the supplied materials. The bill’s referral to the Education and Ways and Means committees indicates it was still in the review process.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely to be the policy choice to expand climate-related curriculum, the cost of implementing a new certificate program, and the breadth of the Department of Education’s discretion to set requirements and approve courses. Because the bill leaves the appropriation amount blank, funding could also be a practical issue. No specific objections, amendments, or opposing arguments appear in the provided transcripts or votes, so any contention is inferred from the bill’s structure rather than documented debate.