STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3621

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2338

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2338, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the benefits offered through the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to help meet the unmet direct costs of college attendance for eligible students.

More specifically, this measure amends the Hawaii Community College Promise Program by:

(1) Requiring the program to provide scholarships for ninety-five percent of eligible students' unmet direct cost needs;

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

(3) Authorizing the program to coordinate with federal student aid programs to maximize financial support for eligible students; and

(4) Amending the program's definition of "direct cost" to more closely align with federal financial aid regulations.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, University of Hawaii, HawaiiKidsCAN, Hawaii Food+ Policy | Purple Maia Foundation, Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of the Attorney General and Harold KL Castle Foundation.

Your Committee finds that the changes made by this measure will enhance the Hawaii Community College Promise Program and help expand educational opportunities for students. Your Committee further finds that this measure will ensure that students do not lose state support if they obtain additional funding from other sources, thereby maximizing the students' financial assistance. Your Committee believes that this measure will help foster a more equitable pathway to college attendance and success for many students in the University of Hawaii system.

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

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair