HB 563 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII'S SPACE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INITIATIVE.

Summary

Appropriates funds for salaries and fringe benefits of positions for the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's Space Science and Engineering Initiative Workforce Development Program, Maunakea Scholars Program, and Internship Program. Appropriates funds for office equipment and supplies, operational costs, and stipends for high school and college students. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB563_HD1 → HB563_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill was revised to transition from a House Draft to a Senate Draft, updating the document metadata and formatting. The substantive policy changes include clarifying the purpose to support the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's space science and engineering initiative, adjusting the effective date from the distant year 3000 to 2050, and refining the summary description to explicitly mention support for both high school and college students.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, but the description was updated to clarify that funding supports both high school and college students within the Maunakea Scholars and Internship Programs.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 3000, to July 31, 2050.

SCOPE

The purpose statement was updated to explicitly state that funds support the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy's space science and engineering initiative.

TECHNICAL

The summary description was revised to clarify that stipends are for both high school and college students.

Numerous formatting and metadata updates were made, including changing the bill version from HD1 to SD1 and updating revision numbers.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 17, 2026

Committee

Re-Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-25-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 229.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-24-25 1:45PM in conference room 229.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Amended

House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 655) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee on WAM has added the measure to decision making scheduled on 04-02-25 10:01AM; CR 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1133) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Fukunaga, Fevella.

upper

Mar 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 03-13-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HRE, WAM.

upper

Mar 6, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 257).

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Perruso voting no (1) and Representative(s) Pierick, Ward excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 15 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Templo, Alcos, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 401) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 5, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

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.