HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THE THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE

REGULAR SESSION OF 2026

 

COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett, Chair

Rep. Terez Amato, Vice Chair

 

Rep. Luke A. Evslin

Rep. Ikaika Olds

Rep. Jeanne Kapela

Rep. Justin H. Woodson

Rep. Darius K. Kila

Rep. Christopher L. Muraoka

Rep. Trish La Chica

Rep. Kanani Souza

 

 

NOTICE OF HEARING

 

DATE:

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

TIME:

2:00p.m.

PLACE:

VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE

Conference Room 309

State Capitol

415 South Beretania Street

 

 

 

Click here to submit testimony and to testify remotely or in person.

 

A live stream link of all House Standing Committee meetings will be available online

shortly before the scheduled start time.

 

Click here for the live stream of this meeting via YouTube.

 

 

 

A G E N D A

 

HB 2519

Status

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes block appropriations and increases fiscal flexibility for the University of Hawaii.  Establishes a University of Hawaii Budget Stabilization Fund, authorizes limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, and implements performance‑based funding metrics. Requires annual fiscal and performance reporting to the Legislature and provides a transition framework for the move to block budgeting.

 

HED, FIN

HB 2409

Status

 

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Establishes the Hawaii Geological Survey in the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  Designates the Director of the Survey, rather than the Geophysics and Planetology Institute specialist qualified in geology, as the State Geologist.

 

HED, FIN

HB 2141, HD1

(HSCR258-26)

Status

RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES.

Expands the activities that would be considered an "eligible business activity" for businesses within an enterprise zone to qualify for enterprise zone benefits.  Authorizes the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to declare up to two areas in the State to be designated as an enterprise zone, subject to the Governor's approval.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

ECD, HED, FIN

HB 2233, HD1

(HSCR218-26)

Status

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM-EDUCATION PROGRAM.

Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the Department of Health to continue their implementation of the Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education Program.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

 

HSH, HED, FIN

 

 

 

 

DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW

 

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing.  Testimony received after this time will be stamped late and left to the discretion of the chair to consider.  While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may not be processed.

 

Testimony submitted will be placed on the legislative website.  This public posting of testimony on the website should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

 

The chair may institute a per-testifier time limit.

 

Committees meeting in the morning must adjourn prior to the day's Floor Session.  Therefore, due to time constraints, not all testifiers may be provided an opportunity to offer verbal comments.  However, written submissions will be considered by the committee.

 

Please refrain from profanity or uncivil behavior.  Violations may result in ejection from the hearing without the ability to rejoin.

 

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For general help navigating the committee hearing process, please contact the Public Access Room at (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov.

 

The livestream and/or cable TV broadcast of this meeting will include closed captioning.  If you need an auxiliary aid/service or other accommodation (including oral, written, or ASL interpretive services) or are unable to submit testimony via the website due to a disability, please contact the committee clerk at (808) 586-8476. Requests made as early as possible have a greater likelihood of being fulfilled.

 

Click here for a complete list of House Guidelines for remote testimony.

 

FOR AMENDED NOTICES:  Measures that have been deleted are stricken through and measures that have been added are bolded.

 

For more information, please contact the Committee Clerk at (808) 586-8476.

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________________

Rep. Andrew Takuya Garrett

Chair