HI HB1780

Requires the Hawaii Department of Education to establish a student bus fare rate system providing free bus passes to students eligible for free meals under section 302A-404

Gives priority to low-income students in the allocation of available school bus seats, addressing barriers faced by families with limited internet access, language barriers, or inflexible work schedules

Mandates streamlined qualification processes allowing automatic eligibility determination through parental consent for data sharing, without requiring duplicate documentation or separate applications

Requires the department to proactively communicate eligibility information, timelines, and prioritization criteria to families before application periods open

Requires annual legislative reports detailing the number of students receiving free passes, funds expended, outreach efforts, and identification procedures; appropriates unspecified general revenue funds for fiscal year 2026-2027