STAND. COM. REP. NO. 809-26

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2338, H.D. 1, 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 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 Department of Education; University of Hawaiʻi System; HawaiiKidsCAN; Hawaiʻi P-20 Partnerships for Education; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2338, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair