STAND. COM. REP. NO. 125-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1597

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1597 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND RELATED DEMENTIAS RESEARCH,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Research Center at the University of Hawaii as the first phase of a strategic plan to build capacity and position Hawaii for future designation by the National Institute on Aging as an Alzheimer's disease research center.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Health Planning and Development Agency; AARP Hawaiʻi; Alzheimer's Association; Hawaii Parkinson's Association; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; University of Hawaiʻi System; and The Queen's Health Systems.

Your Committee finds that establishing an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Research Center at the University of Hawaii will strengthen the State's higher education and research capacity by leveraging existing academic, clinical, and community partnerships, particularly within the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. Your Committee further finds that this measure will support culturally relevant research, workforce development, and increased access to federal research funding.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that establishing an Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Research Center at the University of Hawaii is a matter of statewide concern;

(2) Changing the appropriation and position counts to unspecified amounts;

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

(4) 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. 1597, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1597, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health.

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

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair