STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1204

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1170

H.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 Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1170, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to simplify the residency determination for the State's high school graduates to enroll in postsecondary education and training at the University of Hawaii by considering graduates of the State's high schools to be residents for tuition purposes.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, University of Hawaiʻi System, Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education, University of Hawaiʻi Student Caucus, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that while the University of Hawaii has amended its administrative rules to streamline the enrollment process for all applicants for admission into the University of Hawaii System, existing statutory requirements regarding residency for tuition purposes discourage some local graduating high school seniors or recent graduates from enrolling at the University of Hawaii. More specifically, some students in non-traditional living situations may be incorrectly considered non-residents, subjecting them to higher out-of-state tuition rates. This measure will facilitate enrollment at the University of Hawaii by simplifying the residency determination for the State's high school graduates to enroll in postsecondary education and training at the University of Hawaii by allowing these students to benefit from resident tuition rates.

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, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair