HB 2338HawaiiProcess complete

Community college students would receive scholarships for unmet education costs

Eligible University of Hawaii community-college students would be considered for scholarships covering unmet direct costs, subject to enrollment, aid-application, academic-progress, and available-fund rules.

What it does

Eligible community-college students would receive scholarships for unmet direct education costs, with awards based on financial need and reduced by Pell grants and other scholarships.

Hawaii Promise may coordinate with federal aid, while program rules must protect students' federal-aid eligibility and cover listed education costs.

Argument forStudents may have scholarship support for direct school costs while using other aid for needs such as housing, food, and daily living.

Argument againstBecause awards are limited by available funds and reduced by other scholarships or grants, some eligible students may receive less help than expected.

More detail

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents would provide scholarships for eligible students' unmet direct education costs. Students must attend a University of Hawaii community college, qualify for resident tuition, enroll in a degree or certificate program with at least six credits per semester, and have unmet direct costs. Students generally must complete the federal student-aid application each academic year and accept nonrepayable federal and state aid; this requirement does not apply to certificate-program students. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet the program's other eligibility requirements. Awards would be made as far as available funds allow and generally based on greatest need. For degree students, awards would use the federal aid need calculation and subtract Pell grants and other scholarships. Certificate students would use a University of Hawaii-approved method and subtract grants and other scholarships. Students may receive scholarships for up to eight semesters, and the Act would take effect July 1, 2026, if approved.

The program may coordinate with federal student-aid programs to maximize the total assistance available to students and must preserve federal-aid eligibility when rules conflict. The coordination applies to Hawaii Promise assistance, and direct costs include tuition, fees, books, and supplies. Administration must follow federal financial-aid law and regulations. State assistance may be provided only to the extent federal rules permit it. The federal-aid coordination provision applies effective July 1, 2026.

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 26
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 235, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 235, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 106-26) as amended in (CD 1).
9. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 106-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
12. Apr 29The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
13. Apr 29The 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.Minor
14. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 3:10PM in conference room 229.
15. Apr 24Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 3:00PM in conference room 229.
16. Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:30PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).Minor
18. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Kidani, DeCorte.
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Garrett, Hussey Co-Chairs; Amato, Muraoka.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
21. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).Minor
22. Apr 14House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
23. Apr 10Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
24. Apr 10Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 556) in amended form (SD 1).
25. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3621) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 9One Day Notice 04-10-26.
27. Apr 6The 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..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
29. Mar 30The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
30. Mar 23Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3137) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
31. Mar 23Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
32. Mar 17The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
33. Mar 12The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
34. Mar 10Referred to EDU, WAM.Minor
35. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 98).Minor
36. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
37. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 809-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
39. Feb 25The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
40. Feb 23Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
41. Feb 17Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 300-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
42. Feb 17Passed 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).Minor
43. Feb 6The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
44. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-06-26 2:05PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
45. Feb 2Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
46. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
47. Jan 26Pending introduction.Introduced

EducationGovernment & EthicsTransportation

Issue with this bill?

HB 2338HawaiiProcess complete

Community college students would receive scholarships for unmet education costs

What it does

Eligible community-college students would receive scholarships for unmet direct education costs, with awards based on financial need and reduced by Pell grants and other scholarships.

Hawaii Promise may coordinate with federal aid, while program rules must protect students' federal-aid eligibility and cover listed education costs.

Argument forStudents may have scholarship support for direct school costs while using other aid for needs such as housing, food, and daily living.

Argument againstBecause awards are limited by available funds and reduced by other scholarships or grants, some eligible students may receive less help than expected.

More detail

Where do you stand?

Tell your reps

Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.

More on this bill

Where it stands

IntroducedJan 26
Passed HouseMar 5
Passed SenateApr 10
To Governor
Became LawJul 14

Looking ahead

No hearings or votes scheduled.

History

2026
1. Jul 14Act 235, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).Latest
2. Jul 14Act 235, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).Became Law
3. May 8Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).Minor
4. May 7Transmitted to Governor.
5. May 6Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.Major
  - Vote recorded Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1. Result: pass.Lower
6. May 6Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).Major
7. May 6Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).Minor
8. May 1Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 106-26) as amended in (CD 1).
9. May 1Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
10. May 1Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 106-26).
11. May 148 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
12. Apr 29The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
  - Vote recorded The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
13. Apr 29The 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.Minor
14. Apr 28Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 3:10PM in conference room 229.
15. Apr 24Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 3:00PM in conference room 229.
16. Apr 23Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:30PM in conference room 229.
17. Apr 22Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).Minor
18. Apr 21Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Kidani, DeCorte.
19. Apr 20House Conferees Appointed: Garrett, Hussey Co-Chairs; Amato, Muraoka.
20. Apr 20Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).Minor
21. Apr 16Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).Minor
22. Apr 14House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).Minor
23. Apr 10Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.Passed Senate
  - Vote recorded Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
24. Apr 10Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 556) in amended form (SD 1).
25. Apr 9Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3621) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
26. Apr 9One Day Notice 04-10-26.
27. Apr 6The 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..Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
28. Apr 1The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.Minor
29. Mar 30The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
30. Mar 23Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3137) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
31. Mar 23Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.Minor
32. Mar 17The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Upper
33. Mar 12The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
34. Mar 10Referred to EDU, WAM.Minor
35. Mar 6Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 98).Minor
36. Mar 6Passed First Reading.Minor
37. Mar 5Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 809-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
  - Vote recorded Passed Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
38. Mar 5Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.Passed House
39. Feb 25The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. Result: pass.Lower
40. Feb 23Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
41. Feb 17Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 300-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
  - Vote recorded Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN. Result: pass.Lower
42. Feb 17Passed 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).Minor
43. Feb 6The 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.Minor
  - Vote recorded The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. Result: pass.Lower
44. Feb 3Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-06-26 2:05PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
45. Feb 2Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6Minor
46. Jan 28Introduced and Pass First Reading.Minor
47. Jan 26Pending introduction.Introduced

EducationGovernment & EthicsTransportation

Issue with this bill?

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History

What it does

Where do you stand?

Choose your position

Tell your reps

More on this bill

Where it stands

Looking ahead

History