STAND. COM. REP. NO.  300-26

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

 

RE:   H.B. No. 2338

      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. 2338 entitled:

 

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

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to amend:

 

     (1)  The Hawaii community college promise program (Hawaii Promise) to maximize the financial support for students while aligning with federal regulations and to exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of awards; and

 

     (2)  The definition of "direct cost" to align more closely with federal financial aid regulations.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education; HawaiiKidsCAN; and one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from College Promise and Harold KL Castle Foundation.

 

     Your Committee finds that recent changes to the federal Pell Grant program require updates to Hawaii Promise to ensure awarding practices continue to prioritize students and maximize the support that students receive.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

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

 

     (2)  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. 2338, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2338, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair