STAND. COM. REP. NO. 134-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2518

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. 2518 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 require the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; CARES; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's shifting demographic and workforce landscape is creating uneven enrollment patterns and increasing pressure on instructional facilities, research infrastructure, and student housing across the University of Hawaii System. Your Committee further finds that these challenges call for a coordinated, systemwide approach to facilities and housing planning that aligns with projected enrollment, workforce priorities, and capital planning needs. This measure will ensure that the University develops an integrated master plan to support academic excellence, expand workforce training capacity, and improve student access and success statewide.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the frequency of updates to the master plan from every five years to every six years;

(2) Specifying that the University of Hawaii shall submit an initial report to the Legislature before the 2028 Regular Session;

(3) Inserting an appropriation for an unspecified amount for the University of Hawaii to hire consultants and to make improvements to information systems;

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

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for 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. 2518, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2518, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Housing.

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

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair