CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 98-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2138

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2138, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard.

Your Committee on Conference finds that graduate education is critical for the Hawaii National Guard to meet increasing educational and professional demands placed on its members. However, under existing law, the Adjutant General's authority to award tuition assistance funds is limited to undergraduate degrees. By expanding the Hawaii National Guard Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees, this measure represents a strategic investment in leadership development, public service, and economic resilience.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2026.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2138, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2138, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI Co-Chair	____________________________ CAROL FUKUNAGA Chair
____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT Co-Chair	____________________________ DONNA MERCADO KIM Co-Chair
____________________________ DEE MORIKAWA Co-Chair	____________________________ CHRIS LEE Co-Chair