STAND. COM. REP. NO. 131-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2171

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. 2171 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the University of Hawaii to engage in enterprise-related activities on its campuses statewide and exempt those activities from county zoning ordinances, land use restrictions, and county-level land use approvals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that hands-on, real-world experience is a critical component of higher education, particularly for students who are planning to enter priority workforce sectors such as hospitality, agriculture, culinary arts, and business management. Your Committee further finds that because instructional facilities such as teaching kitchens, agricultural production sites, and retail laboratories can resemble commercial operations, the University's campuses often face local zoning and permitting barriers that are designed for private business rather than educational institutions. This measure is intended to promote the University's educational mission by clarifying that these enterprise-related activities may proceed on lands controlled by the University regardless of any county zoning or land use ordinance when a clear educational nexus exists.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing the requirement that revenues generated be retained by the University of Hawaii program operating the activity, rather than the University of Hawaii as a whole;

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

(3) 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. 2171, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2171, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair