SB 2602 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE GENERAL FUND.

Summary

Requires that tuition, tuition-related course and fee charges, and other charges to students deposited into the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund be allocated and expended in accordance with Board of Regents policies governing systemwide operations. On 6/30/2029, requires unencumbered funds in the University of Hawaii Tuition and Fees Special Fund that exceeds the reserve level established by the Board of Regents to lapse to the general fund. Requires annual reports to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD2)

Issues: ✗ Education

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Apr 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 23, 2026 Last action Apr 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB2602_HD2 → SB2602_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to simplify its purpose by removing requirements for annual reporting and specific budgetary restrictions, focusing solely on transferring excess tuition funds to the general fund. The effective date was accelerated from a distant future date to immediate approval, and the description was updated to reflect this streamlined approach.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the requirement for the university to submit annual expenditure reports to the legislature and eliminating specific restrictions on how the special fund can be used as a justification for budget cuts.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the university to submit annual reports detailing tuition revenues and expenditures to the legislature.

Removed the requirement that the special fund balance must be used to justify budget requests unless the university specifically asks for a reduction.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 3000, to the date of the bill's approval.

FISCAL

Simplified the purpose statement to focus exclusively on transferring excess funds to the general fund, removing references to specific reserve levels and future dates.

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 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 681).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with Representative(s) Cochran, Poepoe, Reyes Oda, Shimizu voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Grandinetti, Hussey, Iwamoto, Perruso voting no (4) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 13 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Templo, Yamashita, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Hartsfield, Hussey, Gedeon; 2 Noes: Representative(s) Perruso, Alcos; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Morikawa.

lower

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1499-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Woodson, Muraoka.

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 16

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 70) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

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, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:55AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2335) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has rescheduled its public hearing to 02-13-26 1:05PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU deleted the measure from the public hearing scheduled on 02-09-26 1:05PM; CR 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-09-26 1:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

3 primary · 3 co-sponsors