CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 116-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2158

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. 2158, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

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 require the University of Hawaii to:

(1) Annually collect, maintain, and publish standardized program-level data for each academic program offered;

(2) Maintain an online dashboard with the program-level data; and

(3) Submit annual reports to the Legislature.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Further clarifying the requirements and data elements for the online dashboard, including requiring the dashboard to contain relevant information needed for academic decision-making by students and their families;

(2) Requiring the University of Hawaii to submit a preliminary report to the Legislature no later than December 1, 2026;

(3) Requiring the University of Hawaii to submit annual reports to the Legislature beginning no later than December 1, 2027, rather than December 31, 2026, and further clarifying the contents of these reports;

(4) Requiring the University of Hawaii to submit a supplementary report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2031;

(5) Requiring the Board of Regents of the University of Hawaii to incorporate data developed pursuant to this measure in existing academic review, planning, and prioritization processes;

(6) Amending the preamble;

(7) Inserting a sunset date of June 30, 2031;

(8) Changing the effective date to upon approval; and

(9) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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. 2158, 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. 2158, 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
____________________________ MICHELLE N. KIDANI Co-Chair	____________________________ SUE L. KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY Co-Chair