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HB2338Introduced in the House

Relating To The Hawaii Community College Promise Program.

Passed

Introduced by Nadine Nakamura, District 15

What does this bill do?

Plain-English breakdown

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Official description

Addresses the change in federal law regarding Pell Grants by amending the Hawaii Community College Promise Program (Hawaii Promise) to provide scholarships for ninety-five percent of a student's unmet direct cost need and exclude grants, scholarships, and other funding sources from the calculation of Hawaii Promise awards, thereby allowing students to apply such funds toward indirect costs, including housing, food, and other living expenses, to reduce financial barriers and support student success. Changes Hawaii Promise from being a last-dollar award. Authorizes Hawaii Promise to coordinate with federal student aid programs to maximize total financial assistance available to students. Effective 7/1/2026. (CD1)

Where it stands

Act 235, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).

July 14, 2026

How did lawmakers vote?

House votes

1 recorded vote · each counted separately

Senate votes

3 recorded votes · each counted separately

HouseStage: House Conference: Passed, With Amendments · April 29, 2026

4

Yes

0

No

0

Absent or Not Voting

4 representatives recorded in this House vote. Colors show vote categories only, not whether a vote was good or bad.

See how each representative voted

RepresentativeDistrictVote
Terez Amato11Yes
Andrew Garrett22Yes
Ikaika Hussey29Yes
Chris Muraoka45Yes

Bill history

  1. Pending introduction.

  2. Introduced and Pass First Reading.

  3. Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6

  4. Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-06-26 2:05PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  5. 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.

  6. Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 300-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

  7. Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3).

  8. Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.

  9. 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, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.

  10. Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 809-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.

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

  12. Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 98).

  13. Passed First Reading.

  14. Referred to EDU, WAM.

  15. The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

  16. 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, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.

  17. Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3137) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

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

  19. The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  20. The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

  21. The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..

  22. Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3621) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.

  23. One Day Notice 04-10-26.

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

  25. Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 556) in amended form (SD 1).

  26. House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).

  27. Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).

  28. House Conferees Appointed: Garrett, Hussey Co-Chairs; Amato, Muraoka.

  29. Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).

  30. Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Kidani, DeCorte.

  31. Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).

  32. Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:30PM in conference room 229.

  33. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 3:00PM in conference room 229.

  34. Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 3:10PM in conference room 229.

  35. The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Hussey, Amato, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

  36. The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani.

  37. Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 106-26) as amended in (CD 1).

  38. Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.

  39. Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 106-26).

  40. 48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26

  41. Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

  42. Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).

  43. Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).

  44. Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).

  45. Transmitted to Governor.

  46. Act 235, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).

  47. Act 235, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).

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