HB 617 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO NURSING.

HB 617 appropriates state funds to establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College, effective July 1, 3000. The bill directly affects UH Maui College students and nursing education in Maui County by creating a new academic pathway for nursing degrees. Its key provision is the allocation of dedicated state funding to develop and operate this specific degree program. The bill does not alter existing nursing regulations or licensure requirements, focusing solely on program establishment through state appropriations.

Issues: ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

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What changed between versions

HB617 → HB617_HD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to remove specific dollar amounts for funding the new nursing program, leaving those figures blank for future appropriation. Additionally, the effective date of the law was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 3000, effectively delaying the program's implementation indefinitely.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding funding was reduced by removing specific appropriation amounts, and its applicability was delayed by changing the effective date to the year 3000.

FISCAL

Specific dollar amounts for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 were deleted from four separate sections, replacing them with blank spaces to be filled later.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 3000.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 402) 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: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila.

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.

lower

3 primary · 0 co-sponsors