Members of the Joint Committee on Education and Transportation on Thursday, Feb. 8 debated a series of bills and amendments meant to address a statewide shortage of school bus drivers and gaps in student transportation service. The committee advanced legislation that would let school districts use smaller vehicles on low‑ridership or geographically constrained routes, approved proposals to subsidize driver licensing and tightened requirements for how the Department of Education notifies families about route changes.

Committee members voted to pass House Bill 2,280 as amended (HD1) to add language requiring that, "in addition to the requirements of subsection (a), any school bus contract between the state and the contractor shall require the contractor to consider the use of smaller vehicles that do not require drivers to hold a commercial driver's license for routes with low ridership or specific geographical limitations as determined by the department, provided that such vehicles meet all safety standards and contractors ensure safety and the well‑being of all passengers." The committee also voted to pass an amendment to a related bill (House Bill 17‑67) that adds an appropriation for purchasing alternative vehicles and requires compliance with state and federal safety regulations.

The Department of Education and transportation providers repeatedly told the committee the core constraint is not vehicles but qualified drivers. "The issue is not really the physical vehicles themselves, but the number of qualified drivers that we need to have," said Colonel Tuguro, Deputy Superintendent for Operations at the Department of Education, testifying on behalf of the DOE. The department described using smaller tour buses and alternate vehicles as an interim option — one that worked in specific circumstances, such as emergency operations on Maui when tourism downturns left unused tour buses and drivers available.

Officials and testifiers described multiple responses being used or considered: emergency proclamations to stabilize service (EPs that provide 60‑day relief), driver subsidy differentials to increase compensation for part‑time drivers, pilots to issue bus passes (the HoloCard pilot issued 45,000 cards; roughly 16,300 students used them and the pilot covered about 32 routes), and conversations about hiring or redeploying school staff or creating campus positions that could provide full‑time employment for drivers between routes.

Committee members pressed DOE for data. The department reported driver counts that illustrate a volatile workforce: pre‑pandemic total drivers were 674; the following year that fell to 525; during the pandemic it fell to 446; it later rose to about 456, and after emergency steps rose again to roughly 507. The department also said about 24,000 students ride school buses statewide and that overall bus operations currently cost the state about $61 million per year; pending new contracts could add roughly $10 million, pushing costs toward $71 million annually.

Lawmakers and community representatives described ongoing route losses on some islands and partial restorations. DOE staff said not all previously canceled routes have been reinstated; for example, a Waimanalo‑to‑Kailua High School route had not been fully restored. The department reported some island‑level special‑education route declines: on Oahu special‑education routes were cited as 160 pre‑pandemic and down to 129 at the time of testimony; on the Big Island pre‑pandemic counts were about 119 and had dropped to 71.

Committee debate also addressed licensure. The DOE explained the federal and state regulatory structure for driver qualifications: drivers progress from a basic vehicle license to CDLs with "P" and "S" endorsements for passenger and school bus operations that carry additional background‑check and training requirements. The committee approved House Bill 16,56 (CDL licensure support) with amendments and deferred some other related bills for additional technical work.

Members also passed House Bill 2,082 with amendments to require DOE to adopt clearer standards for planned service reductions, including (1) a narrowed set of required standards for implementation (reduced from ten to three to improve feasibility), (2) mandatory equity assessments for planned reductions, and (3) a required communications and outreach plan so families receive better notice about changes.

Votes at a glance: HB 2,280 (pass as HD1): committee approved the HD1 amendment and advanced the measure; HB 17‑67 (purchase/authorization for alternative vehicles): passed with amendments adding appropriations and safety language; HB 17‑97: deferred for further compliance work; HB 16‑56 (CDL support/appropriation): passed with amendments; HB 2,082 (standards for service changes): passed with amendments. The committee recorded Chair and Vice‑Chair aye votes on the measures and noted several members excused on roll calls.

Why it matters: Lawmakers framed the package as a combination of short‑term fixes (alternative vehicles, emergency subsidies) and longer‑term adjustments (contracting changes, licensing incentives and improved parent notification) intended to stabilize routes and restore service equity across islands. The department cautioned that smaller vehicles alone are not a cure without concurrent driver recruitment and retention measures.

What’s next: Several bills now move to floor consideration with committee amendments; other measures were deferred for further technical or fiscal work.