House education committee advances P‑3 school facilities bill with DOE permission safeguard

The House Committee on Education advanced SB2024 SD2 on March 19, clearing language to allow the School Facility Authority (SFA) to enter public–private partnerships (P‑3s) to build school facilities while adding an amendment to protect Department of Education (DOE) property.

Proponents, including the SFA director and charter‑school leaders, told the committee the bill would keep public money tied to public assets and could accelerate delivery in areas that have waited decades for a school. Matt Sotelo, executive director of Hawaii Technology Academy, said his school has invested millions in leased facilities and that the bill would “keep public money in public spaces and assets” rather than channeling state funds into privately owned buildings.

Jesse Suki, deputy superintendent for operations, asked for and secured a statutory guardrail: P‑3 projects may not be completed on DOE‑owned land except with DOE permission. Suki warned that carving land out of school campuses could create “donut holes” that complicate campus management and future development.

Committee members questioned how the P‑3 model would interact with unions and conversion‑charter models. The SFA director said the asset would remain state‑owned while operations could be run by union employees and HSTA teachers under a conversion model, noting the state already has six conversion charter schools that follow a similar structure.

Decision and next steps: The committee passed SB2024 SD2 with the DOE‑permission amendment and adopted the chair’s recommendation. The measure was moved forward by voice vote and recorded as adopted by the committee; Representative Keelah was noted as excused during that vote.