STAND. COM. REP. NO. 404

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1170

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1170 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; University of Hawaiʻi System; and University of Hawaiʻi Student Caucus.

Your Committee finds that securing the resident tuition fee for Hawaii high school graduates will increase accessibility for students who are deterred from seeking an undergraduate degree due to perceived high cost and will provide a competitive choice for students considering out-of-state options. This measure will also help some local graduating students or recent graduates who may, for a variety of reasons, meet the current statutory requirements for providing evidence of bona fide residency in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1170, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1170, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair