HR 189 Hawaii House · 2025 Regular Session

REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII COMMUNITY COLLEGES, INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII MAUI COLLEGE, TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF BACHELOR'S, ASSOCIATE, CERTIFICATE, AND OTHER EXISTING DEGREE PROGRAMS OR PATHWAYS THAT DIRECTLY ALIGN WITH JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND INDUSTRY NEEDS WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE REGION OF SERVICE.

This House Resolution requests the University of Hawaii Community Colleges (including Maui College) to create a list of existing degree programs - such as bachelor's, associate, and certificate courses - that match job opportunities in key local industries like tourism, health care, and renewable energy. It requires colleges to collaborate with businesses using current job market data to identify which programs align with regional economic needs. The list aims to help students choose relevant training and employers find qualified workers, without mandating changes to existing programs. This is a planning tool for alignment, not a law requiring new programs or funding.

Issues: ✓ Education

Sub-Topics: Higher 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

HR189_HD1 → HR189_HD2 · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was reformatted from a House Resolution (HD1) to a House Bill (HD2) with expanded scope. The most significant substantive change is the addition of 'associate, certificate, and other existing degree programs or pathways' to the list of programs the University of Hawaii Community Colleges must evaluate, broadening the scope beyond just Bachelor's degree programs.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from requesting a list of only Bachelor's degree programs to include associate degrees, certificates, and other degree pathways, making the request more comprehensive regarding workforce development offerings.

SCOPE

Expanded the list of programs to include associate degrees, certificates, and other pathways in addition to Bachelor's degrees

TECHNICAL

Changed document type from House Resolution (HD1) to House Bill (HD2) with updated header information

Removed metadata headers and added standard legislative formatting with spacing adjustments

Floor votes · House Apr 3, 2025

How they voted

47–1

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 50

Apr 3, 2025

D Democratic41

40 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican9

7 Yea 1 Nay 1

77% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

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 LAB (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1789) as amended in HD 2, recommending adoption.

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on LAB recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 4 Ayes: Representative(s) Sayama, Lee, M., Garrett, Kong; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kapela, Reyes Oda.

lower

Mar 27, 2025

Committee

Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on LAB 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. 1576) as amended in HD 1, recommending referral to LAB.

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, LAB, referral sheet 22

lower

Mar 7, 2025

Introduced

Offered

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors