STAND. COM. REP. NO. 868

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1624

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1624, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require that the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii expend funds appropriated to "renew, improve, and modernize" projects for those purposes only, and not for current, ongoing, or anticipated capital improvement projects.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the University of Hawaii System.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that public funds appropriated by the Legislature should be used specifically for their intended purpose. Your Committee further finds that the requirement imposed by this measure will promote the integrity of state infrastructure investments and ensure that the maintenance and modernization of public facilities are appropriately prioritized.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1624, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair