HB 542 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM.

Summary

Expands the Hawaii promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet needs of qualified students at any four-year university of Hawaii campus who meet certain criteria. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 4, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB542 → HB542_HD1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands the Hawaii Promise Program to include four-year university campuses (Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu), previously limited to community colleges. The change addresses the significant financial gap many students face at four-year institutions by extending scholarship eligibility to those enrolled in degree programs with 12+ credits per semester.

Scope change

Expanded from community college campuses only to include all four-year University of Hawaii campuses (Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu)

SCOPE

Extended program eligibility to students enrolled at four-year University of Hawaii campuses, previously restricted to community college campuses

ELIGIBILITY

Changed credit requirement from 6+ credits per semester for community college students to 12+ credits per semester for four-year university students

Removed certificate program exception for four-year university students, now only classified degree programs qualify

FISCAL

Added appropriation request for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to fund expanded program

DEFINITION

Added definition of 'direct cost' to include tuition, educational fees, books, supplies, and transportation between student's dwelling and campus

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that scholarships be awarded based on greatest need basis and capped at student's unmet direct cost need

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to HRE, WAM.

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 108).

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 12 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Morikawa, Alcos, Ward.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 408) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Muraoka.

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Committee

Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 2

lower

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Pending introduction.