CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 106-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2338

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madam and Sir:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2338, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to amend the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to:

(1) Maximize financial support for students while aligning with federal regulations;

(2) Exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of awards;

(3) Provide scholarships for ninety-five percent of a student's unmet direct cost needs; and

(4) Amend the definition of "direct cost" to align more closely with federal financial aid regulations.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that this measure is a matter of statewide concern; and

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2026.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2338, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2338, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Chair	____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT Co-Chair
____________________________ TROY N. HASHIMOTO Co-Chair	____________________________ IKAIKA HUSSEY Co-Chair