SB 1489 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII RESIDENT TUITION FEE.

Summary

Requires the University of Hawaii to grant the resident tuition fee for enrollment at any University of Hawaii campus to individuals who have graduated from a Hawaii high school and are enrolling in an undergraduate degree program, under certain conditions. Effective 7/31/2050. (SD1)

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Last action Feb 14, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB1489 → SB1489_SD1 · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill simplifies residency rules for University of Hawaii tuition by allowing recent high school graduates to qualify for resident tuition regardless of their current living situation. The changes address challenges faced by students experiencing homelessness or complex family situations who previously struggled to prove bona fide residency. The bill also updates the effective date from immediate approval to July 31, 2050.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on University of Hawaii resident tuition eligibility, but the eligibility criteria are expanded to include recent high school graduates who may not meet traditional residency requirements due to homelessness or family circumstances.

ELIGIBILITY

Added language recognizing local high school graduates as residents for tuition purposes, addressing barriers for students experiencing homelessness or complex family situations who cannot provide traditional residency documentation.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from 'upon approval' to 'July 31, 2050', significantly delaying when the new residency rules take effect.

TECHNICAL

Added metadata headers, formatting codes, and system identifiers typical of legislative tracking systems that were not present in the original bill text.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HRE (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 521) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HRE were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, Hashimoto; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HRE has scheduled a public hearing on 02-11-25 3:10PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to HRE, WAM.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 21, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors