Thank you so much for supporting and advocating for our keiki and families so amazingly over the 2025 Hawai'i Legislative Regular Session. Early Childhood had some significant wins this session, and while there is still much work to be done, we wanted to celebrate the wins and mahalo each and every one of you who showed up to advocate for our keiki this session.

Our big HECAA win for this session was the passing of HB 692, which will expand access to the Preschool Open Doors Program (POD). The major highlight of this bill is that, effective January 2026, two-year-olds will now be eligible. In addition, the accreditation mandate has been removed, and families may now be eligible for continuous enrollment through kindergarten entry. Sadly, the inclusion of our Family Child Care (FCC) providers was removed by the legislature. We hope to show up in big ways for our FCCs next session and hope to see you there!

On the DHS administrative rules side, our advocates successfully pushed for increasing the income eligibility for POD to 500% of the federal poverty level. This means that now our working-class ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families will also be eligible to receive Preschool Open Doors subsidies. At the most recent Childcare Advisory Committee meeting, DHS reported that they are aiming to make the new rules active within the summer of 2025. The next round of Preschool Open Doors applications (FAQs) is expected to open on July 1, 2025. Please let your friends and family know. 

Some other big wins for keiki during this session were the passing of SB 1300, which expands access to free and reduced meal prices for our DOE keiki. HB 237 appropriates funds to establish and support a peer-to-peer support program for families with children ages birth. HB 392 allows the School Facilities Authority to work with public and private entities to develop prekindergarten, preschool, child care, and early learning program facilities. HB 300 relating to the budget appropriates funds to the Executive Office of Early Learning, as well as the School Facilities Authority, to continue expanding access to early learning throughout the state. Mahalo to our partners and advocates for coming together so brilliantly and working so hard to get these bills passed. 

All of the mentioned bills have passed through the legislature and are awaiting the Governor's signature!

HB 549 relating to an early learning apprenticeship grant program made it to the very last day of session, but ultimately did not receive clearance from the Finance Committee, chaired by Rep. Yamashita. The introducer and Chair of the Higher Education Committee, Representative Andrew Takuya Garrett, has verbally expressed a willingness to support an Early Learning Apprenticeship bill in the 2026 session. Additionally, there is a new chair of the Finance Committee, Representative Chris Todd from District 3 (Portion of Hilo, Keaukaha, Orchidlands Estate, Ainaloa, Hawaiian Acres, Fern Acres, portions of Kurtistown and Kea‘au).

Mahalo to Senator San Buenaventura and the Committee on Health and Human Services, Representative Lisa Marten and the Committee on Human Services and Homelessness, Senator Kidani and the Committee on Education, and Senator Kim and the Committee on Higher Education, for hearing our bills and keeping them alive through the 2025 legislative session. Unless things change, these will continue to be the chairs that we will work with to move our early childhood bills. If you are obliged, reach out to them and/ or their committee members throughout the year and let them know that you care about early learning.

In closing, we again send you our deepest gratitude and appreciation. It was a crazy session, but our advocates really pulled through! You all are so amazing and inspiring. There have been so many times throughout the session that I have just been awed by the ways Hawai'i's advocates have shown up for our children. Thank you so much for everything you've done and continue to do for our keiki and families. It has been an honor and a pleasure.

Best wishes and a heartfelt mahalo,

Your HECAA team

Aloha all,

Sending this message in hope and gratitude. It's been a busy year so far and a very busy legislative session. With so many uncertainties in our midst it is very grounding and inspiring to know that we are surrounded by such a strong body of caring, dedicated early childhood advocates. We are quickly approaching the close of session and I am enamored to let you know that our bills are still alive. HB 549 our apprenticeships bill and HB 692, our Preschool Open Doors bill passed through WAM this week. They'll be going to conference so we will stay vigilant and continue to keep you apprised of any matters of concern. SB 1609 our contracts bill needs to be heard by FIN, so please call Rep. Yamashita to request a hearing today. His contact info and a script are below. As always, we send you our sincere gratitude for all your support this session and for all the work you do year round. Wishing you a wonderful day.

In humble gratitude and best wishes,

Malia

FIN Chair Kyle Yamashita

Hawai‘i State Capitol, Room 306

Phone: 808-586-6200

Fax: 808-586-6201

[email protected]

Sample Script

Aloha! I am calling Representative Yamashita  to kindly request that he please schedule a hearing for SB1609. This bill would create a model for a more stabilized revenue stream for programs helping to secure access to childcare for Hawai'i's families Thank you for your consideration of scheduling this bill to be heard!

Over 3,000 bills were introduced at the legislature in the 2025 session. With amazement and gratitude our HECAA bills are still alive with only one senate version getting deferred. Our senate bill for contracts, SB 1609 has passed out of finance committee and is making to crossover!! Nice work all!!

This week we have our final two house bills being heard. Mahalo to the many advocates that took time to call Rep. Yamashita and other reps to get these bills heard. Each and everyone of you has made such an impact in helping to keep our bills alive and moving forward. Thank you for being an active advocate for our keiki, families and workforce. 

Hearings happening this week:

Preschool Open Doors HB 692- Monday 2/24/25 12:00 pm Rm. 308

HB 692 Sample Testimony (FIN)

Apprenticeships HB 549- Tuesday 2/25/25 2:00 pm Rm. 308

HB 549 Sample Testimony (FIN)-

We still need a hearings scheduled for senate apprenticeship bill, SB 426,  so if you are so inclined please give Senator Dela Cruz a call as well.

WAM sample hearing request script

SB 1609, HB 241-RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

Operating expenses in early learning programs rely almost solely on paid tuitions. Fluctuations in enrollment for even one or two months could result in a program being unable to pay their staff and ultimately can lead to program closures. Early learning contracts help to stabilize revenue steams by decreasing the volatility of enrollment changes. Contracts help programs to stay open and families to maintain access to childcare and early learning opportunities.

SB 1609 passed WAM on 2/19/25

HB 241 needs to be scheduled to be heard by FIN

HB 241 Sample Testimony (FIN)-needs a hearing

Hawai‘iʻs high cost of living makes it extremely challenging for working families with young children. Affordable housing and affordable child care top the list of expenses. In fact, child care is the second largest expense after housing. This is especially critical for a third of Hawai‘iʻs households who are ALICE families.

HB692. RELATING TO THE PRESCHOOL OPEN DOORS PROGRAM.

Scheduled to be heard by FIN on Monday, 2-24-25, 12:00 pm, rm. 308- Please submit testimony

HB 692 Sample Testimony (FIN)

POD Talking Points

POD Sample Testimony

Thank you in advance for being an advocate for our keiki families. Every voice counts. Your active support of this bill will help thousands of children and families to gain access the Preschool Open Doors Programs.

*SB 712 has been deferred

HB 549, SB 426-RELATING TO AN EARLY LEARNING APPRENTICESHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

Early Learning Registered Apprenticeships Programs (ELRAPs) are an Early Childhood Care and Education (ECE) workforce pathway that allows community-based programs to train and retain staff. ELRAPs are a structured, hands-on training model designed to help individuals gain the skills and knowledge needed to work in early learning programs. 

• ELRAPS FAQ  

HB 549 is scheduled to be heard by FIN Tuesday 2-25-24, 2:00pm, Rm. 308- Please submit testimony 

HB 549 Sample Testimony (FIN)

SB 426 need a hearing- please call Senator Dela Cruz

WAM hearing request script

SB 426 Sample Testimony (WAM)-needs hearing

RAP Talking Points, 

RAP Draft Testimony 

The data is all there. Providing quality early learning experiences sets children up for future life success. Providing quality, affordable, childcare helps working families stay engaged in the workforce. Childcare is the infrastructure that so many industries rely upon. Yet, public investment fails to reflect the value and importance of this essential industry.  We know the data, and the research is all there. What is missing is your voice, your lived experience.

Please help us bring to life the story that numbers and reports alone could never tell. Share your story as a parent, grandparent, caregiver, an Ohana member, childcare provider, teacher, director, employer, small business owner, and any other role that childcare impacts. It is our stories, not the numbers that speak to the heart and values that represent us as people of Hawai'i.

We implore you to let your voice be heard. Share your story. Share your wisdom, knowledge, and experiences; and help us raise an understanding and awareness of how very important early childhood is, not just for children, but for all of us. 

“The courage it takes to share your story might be the very thing someone else needs to open their heart to hope.” — Unknown

Advocacy is not a job we can do alone. Every voice, every person, every experience shared, matters and can make a difference. We are stronger together, and with dedicated hearts and minds we can change the lives of our young children for the better. Please join us as we unite as one community advocating for the rights and benefits our children and families deserve.