HR 188 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM TO ESTABLISH A VETERINARY MEDICINE EXPANSION WORKING GROUP TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A DOCTOR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE PROGRAM AT WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

HR 188 is a House Resolution requesting the University of Hawaii System to form a working group to study the feasibility of creating a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at Windward Community College. The working group would include representatives from Windward Community College, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, agriculture, private veterinary practices, and state legislators. It would assess key factors like accreditation requirements, necessary facilities, faculty needs, funding sources, and potential partnerships with mainland veterinary schools. The resolution does not create the program but mandates a feasibility study to determine if developing a DVM program at Windward Community College is possible. The working group must submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2026.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 7, 2025 Last action Apr 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HR188_HD1 → HR188_HD2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reformatted from a clean legislative text to include metadata headers and file artifacts, while the substantive policy content was largely preserved but slightly modified. The most significant policy change is the addition of a new working group member (a University of Hawaii System representative) and a new feasibility study requirement to assess demand and optimal campus placement, plus a clarification that community colleges cannot offer doctoral programs without accreditation.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing a working group to explore a DVM program at Windward Community College, but the feasibility study scope was expanded to include demand assessment and campus location analysis.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new working group member: One member of the University of Hawaii System to act as a representative for the Working Group.

Added a new feasibility study requirement to assess demand for the DVM program and determine the most optimal campus for integration within the University of Hawaii System.

Added a new WHEREAS clause clarifying that community colleges are not authorized to offer doctoral programs without going through regional accreditation processes.

Modified the recipient list for certified copies of the resolution to change 'University of Hawaii at Rib' to 'University of Hawaii at Hilo'.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted with metadata headers, file paths, and timestamps inserted, while the core legislative text was preserved with minor formatting adjustments.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Resolution adopted in final form.

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Adopted as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Woodson excused (2).

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1791) as amended in HD 2, recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Quinlan.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on AGR as amended in HD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Hashem, Hussey, Templo, Ward excused (4).

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1574) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to AGR.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela, Sayama.

lower

Mar 14, 2025

Committee

Referred to HED, AGR, referral sheet 22

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors