STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1715

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1170

H.D. 1

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 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 make enrolling at a University of Hawaii System campus easier for certain residents.

Specifically, this measure requires the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii System to grant a person residency status for tuition purposes if the student:

(1) Graduated from a high school in the State within four years preceding the student's first day of officially scheduled instruction; and

(2) Will enroll in an undergraduate degree program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii System, Department of Education, Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, and University of Hawaii Student Caucus.

Your Committee finds that some students experiencing homelessness or who have complex family situations may have difficulty providing evidence of bona fide residency for the purpose of qualifying for in-state tuition. Your Committee further finds that this measure simplifies the residency determination for certain Hawaii high school graduates, making it easier for those students to qualify for resident tuition.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 H.B. No. 1170, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1170, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair