HB 1596 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO STUDENT BASIC NEEDS SUPPORT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Summary

Establishes a Basic Needs Pilot Program at a single campus of the University of Hawaii system. Authorizes the establishment of a Housing Stability Pilot Project at that campus. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. Sunsets 6/30/2028. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Housing

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 16, 2026 Last action Mar 10, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

HB1596 → HB1596_HD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was amended to reorganize its structure by adding new definitions for 'housing instability' and clarifying the roles of the Board of Regents and the pilot campus. The effective date was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, likely as a placeholder or error, while the sunset date remains June 30, 2028. The appropriation section was updated to reference the new section numbers for the pilot program and housing stability project.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on a single University of Hawaii campus pilot program, but the definitions and operational requirements were clarified to include specific criteria for housing instability and updated references to the Board of Regents' selection process.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'housing instability,' clarifying it includes a lack of fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence consistent with federal guidance.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the reference for selecting the pilot campus from 'subsection (c)' to 'section 3(b)' and moved the benefits navigator position requirement to section 3(c).

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 3000, which appears to be a placeholder or clerical error requiring correction.

TECHNICAL

Updated all internal references in the funding and evaluation sections to match the new section numbering (e.g., changing references from Section 2 to Section 3).

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 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 140).

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Muraoka voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso, Quinlan, Sayama excused (3). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Gedeon; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Lower · Passed

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 529-26), recommending referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Hartsfield.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 123-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HSH.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Jan 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to HED, HSH, FIN, referral sheet 1

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

Jan 16, 2026

Introduced

Prefiled.

lower

8 primary · 0 co-sponsors