STAND. COM. REP. NO. 408

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 542

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. 542 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Promise Program to provide scholarships to qualified students enrolled at any University of Hawaii campus, rather than just community college campuses.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; University of Hawaiʻi Student Caucus; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the cost of attendance continues to be a significant barrier for many of the State's residents in pursuing higher education. In response, the University of Hawaii implemented the Hawaii Promise Program to provide need-based awards intended to be applied toward the unmet need of qualified students enrolled at any community college campus of the University of Hawaii. This measure will expand the Hawaii Promise Program to provide scholarships for the unmet needs of qualified undergraduate students enrolled at any four-year University of Hawaii campus, thereby increasing the number of students who enroll and earn degrees to prepare them for success in the workforce and their communities.

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. 542, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 542, 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