HI HB245

Requires the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Department of Health and State Public Charter School Commission, to conduct a study on current practices for managing heat exposure in state public and charter schools during outdoor activities.

If current practices are found insufficient, the Department of Education must develop guidelines applicable to all public and charter schools covering sports practices, conditioning workouts, recess, marching band practice, JROTC activities, and other outdoor activities.

Guidelines shall be based on wet-bulb globe temperature measurements as the standard for assessing heat stress and must include thresholds for modifying, postponing, or canceling outdoor activities.

Guidelines must include recommendations for expanding shaded areas on campuses, protocols for adequate hydration, staff training on recognizing heat illness symptoms, measures for students with medical conditions affecting thermoregulation, acclimatization protocols, and student reacclimatization procedures.

Department of Education must submit the study with findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the start of the 2026 regular legislative session.