STAND. COM. REP. NO. 806-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2489

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. 2489, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, as well as to develop a multi-year plan to include a master's degree program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women; Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission; Disability and Communication Access Board; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

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. 2489, 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