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Committees pass bill to codify automatic teacher step increases, strike COVID retention bonus
Summary
Joint Senate committees voted to pass House Bill 1890 with amendments to codify automatic salary step increases for teachers (including charter school teachers), accept Attorney General clarifications on funding, and remove proposed COVID-era retention bonuses after debate about funding and collective bargaining. The measure will proceed with amendments for further consideration.
The joint Senate committees on Education and Labor on March 23 passed House Bill 1890 with amendments to enshrine automatic annual salary step increases for public school and public charter school teachers and to clarify funding. The committees accepted language suggested by the Attorney General that makes clear payments are subject to legislative appropriations and struck the bill’s proposed COVID-era retention bonus.
Supporters, including teachers and student advocates, urged the committees to make pay more predictable and help retain educators. ‘‘Teaching during COVID was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,’’ said Sarah Miliant Lafin of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, who described juggling remote and in-person instruction and urged support for retention measures. An 11th‑grade student, Kylie Ademeni, told senators the bill matters because ‘‘the high cost of living makes it very difficult for teachers to stay here.’’
Proponents and department witnesses agreed that some automatic step language already appears in the 2023–2027 collective bargaining agreement, but they said a statute would preserve the practice beyond the life of any one contract. ‘‘I’m here representing the governor of the state of Hawaii,’’ Jan Musto told the committees, noting the administration’s support for teacher compensation while pointing out Chapter 89’s role in collective bargaining.
Committee members pressed witnesses on funding and scope. Testimony estimated a four‑year cost for the retention payment language that had been in the draft at roughly $150 million to $200 million; witnesses discussed possible revenue sources such as a rental‑car tax. The Attorney General’s office recommended redrafting to avoid conflicts with Chapter 89 and to make clear that any new compensatory payments require appropriation.
After discussion, the committees adopted amendments to add charter school teachers to the annual step provisions, accept the Attorney General’s draft clarifications about funding, and strike the teacher retention bonus language that had been included in the House draft. The labor committee chair announced the recommendation to ‘‘pass with amendments.’’ The chair and vice chairs recorded aye votes; several senators were recorded as excused during the roll call.
The committees said the amended measure will move forward in the legislative process for further consideration and technical drafting. Members noted remaining budget questions and left the bill’s final financing details to subsequent committee stages.
