Hawaii HB 2338 — RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM.

Hawaii, 2026. HB 2338: RELATING TO THE HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGE PROMISE PROGRAM.

Plural source record ↗

Official legislative source ↗

Latest action

July 14, 2026 — Act 235, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).

Summary

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)

Sponsors

• NAKAMURA — primary sponsor

Bill text

HB2338_CD1 Read version ↗ Read version ↗

HB2338_SD1 Read version ↗ Read version ↗

HB2338_HD1 Read version ↗ Read version ↗

HB2338 Read version ↗ Read version ↗

Recorded votes

Legislative history

1. January 26, 2026Pending introduction.
2. January 28, 2026Introduced and Pass First Reading.
3. February 2, 2026Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6
4. February 3, 2026Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-06-26 2:05PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
5. February 6, 2026The 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. February 17, 2026Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 300-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
7. February 17, 2026Passed 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. February 23, 2026Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
9. February 25, 2026The 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. March 5, 2026Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 809-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
11. March 5, 2026Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
12. March 6, 2026Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 98).
13. March 6, 2026Passed First Reading.
14. March 10, 2026Referred to EDU, WAM.
15. March 12, 2026The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 03-16-26 1:00PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.
16. March 17, 2026The 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. March 23, 2026Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3137) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
18. March 23, 2026Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
19. March 30, 2026The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
20. April 1, 2026The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
21. April 6, 2026The 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. April 9, 2026Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3621) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
23. April 9, 2026One Day Notice 04-10-26.
24. April 10, 2026Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.
25. April 10, 2026Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 556) in amended form (SD 1).
26. April 14, 2026House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
27. April 16, 2026Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
28. April 20, 2026House Conferees Appointed: Garrett, Hussey Co-Chairs; Amato, Muraoka.
29. April 20, 2026Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
30. April 21, 2026Senate Conferees Appointed: Kim Chair; Hashimoto Co-Chair; Kidani, DeCorte.
31. April 22, 2026Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 719).
32. April 23, 2026Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Friday, 04-24-26 2:30PM in conference room 229.
33. April 24, 2026Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Tuesday 04-28-26 3:00PM in conference room 229.
34. April 28, 2026Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Wednesday 04-29-26 3:10PM in conference room 229.
35. April 29, 2026The 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. April 29, 2026The 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. May 1, 2026Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 106-26) as amended in (CD 1).
38. May 1, 2026Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
39. May 1, 2026Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 106-26).
40. May 1, 202648 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26
41. May 6, 2026Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
42. May 6, 2026Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).
43. May 6, 2026Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
44. May 8, 2026Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
45. May 7, 2026Transmitted to Governor.
46. July 14, 2026Act 235, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).
47. July 14, 2026Act 235, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1337).

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