STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1215-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2802

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 2802, S.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 the University of Hawaii:

(1) To establish Bachelor's degree programs in Education and Agricultural Science at Leeward Community College;

(2) To establish two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions; and

(3) For supplies and equipment to support the programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

Your Committee finds that there is a strong demand and need for educators and agricultural professionals in the State. Expanding higher education in these fields is essential to address workforce shortages in these key areas. Your Committee notes, however, that the University of Hawaii-West Oahu already offers a Bachelor of Education with concentrations in elementary, middle-level, secondary, and special education.

Your Committee further finds that establishing a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Science at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, rather than Leeward Community College, will not only allow students to seamlessly transition from the community college level to upper-division course work at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu, but will also increase the number of well-educated graduates necessary to foster sustainable and diversified agriculture in the State.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing language establishing a Bachelor of Science in Education at Leeward Community College;

(2) Clarifying that the degree in Agricultural Science shall be a Bachelor of Science rather than a Bachelor of Arts;

(3) Establishing the Agricultural Science degree program at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu rather than Leeward Community College;

(4) Amending the preamble to reflect its amended purpose;

(5) Changing the amount of the appropriation and number of positions to unspecified amounts; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests that your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, consider an appropriation amount of $750,000 and two full-time equivalent (2.0 FTE) positions.

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 S.B. No. 2802, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2802, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair