HB 1751: Department of Defense; University of Hawaii; State Tuition Assistance Program; Graduate Degree
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: House
- Latest Version Date: 2026-02-02
Current Status:
Failed
(2026-02-18: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).)
Introduced
In Committee
First Chamber
In Committee
Second Chamber
Final Decking
Enacted
What does this bill do?
This bill lets the state Adjutant General expand the Hawaii National Guard tuition assistance program to cover graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii. It applies to qualified Guard members who are Hawaii residents and are enlisted personnel, warrant officers, or junior officers working toward a degree at any UH campus.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified personnel in the Hawaii National Guard. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)
Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1751 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
H.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 121-45, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) The adjutant general, subject to the availability of funds, may award tuition assistance to qualified enlisted persons, warrant officers, and company grade officers (0-1 through 0-3) in the Hawaii national guard who are:
(1) Residents
of the State, as defined by the board of regents pursuant to section [[]304A-402[]];
and
(2) Undergraduate
and graduate students working toward a degree on any campus of the [University]
university of Hawaii."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 3000.
Report Title:
Department of Defense; University of Hawaii; State Tuition Assistance Program; Graduate Degree
Description:
Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified personnel in the Hawaii National Guard. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
1751 |
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THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to the hawaii national guard state tuition assistance program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 121-45, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
"(a) The adjutant general, subject to the availability of funds, may award tuition assistance to qualified enlisted persons, warrant officers, and company grade officers (0-1 through 0-3) in the Hawaii national guard who are:
(1) Residents
of the State, as defined by the board of regents pursuant to section [[]304A-402[]];
and
(2) Undergraduate
and graduate students working toward a degree on any campus of the [University]
university of Hawaii."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
_____________________________ |
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Report Title:
Department of Defense; UH; STAP; Graduate Degree
Description:
Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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Date
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Status
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| Feb 18, 2026 | Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). |
| Feb 18, 2026 | Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 403-26), recommending referral to FIN. |
| Feb 13, 2026 | The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-13-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Feb 3, 2026 | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kitagawa excused (1). |
| Feb 3, 2026 | Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED. |
| Jan 30, 2026 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none. |
| Jan 27, 2026 | Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 01-30-26 11:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Referred to PBS, HED, FIN, referral sheet 1 |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Introduced and Pass First Reading. |
| Jan 21, 2026 | Pending introduction. |
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Date
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Description
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Location
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Votes
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| Feb 13, 2026 | The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED | House Standing Committee on Higher Education |
Passed |
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| Jan 30, 2026 | The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS | House Standing Committee on Public Safety |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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| Department of Defense | ** Support | |
| Hawaiʻi Army National Guard | ** Support | |
| Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency | *** Support | Jan 29, 2026 |
| Office of the Adjutant General | *** Support | Jan 29, 2026 |
| University of Hawaiʻi System | ** Support |
STAND. COM. REP. NO. 403-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1751
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Higher Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1751, H.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Department of Defense; Hawaiʻi Army National Guard; and five individuals.
Your Committee finds that this measure supports workforce retention within Hawaii by providing qualified Hawaii National Guard members with access to affordable graduate education at the University of Hawaii. This measure offers an additional pathway toward tuition assistance at the state level and offers greater chance for Hawaii National Guard members to apply their skills locally and continue serving the people of Hawaii.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1751, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,
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____________________________ ANDREW TAKUYA GARRETT, Chair |
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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1-26
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2026
RE: H.B. No. 1751
H.D. 1
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2026
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Public Safety, to which was referred H.B. No. 1751 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard tuition assistance program at the University of Hawaii to include graduate degrees for qualified enlisted persons, warrant officers, and company grade officers in the Hawaii National Guard.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the state Department of Defense, Hawaii National Guard, Hawaii Army National Guard, University of Hawaiʻi System, and two individuals.
Your Committee finds that this measure supports workforce retention within Hawaii. Providing qualified Hawaii National Guard members with access to affordable graduate education at the University of Hawaii encourages them to remain in the State, apply their advanced skills locally, and continue serving Hawaii's people in military and civilian capacities.
Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to January 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1751, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1751, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety,
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____________________________ DELLA AU BELATTI, Chair |
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Date
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Testimony PDF
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| Feb 13, 2026 | HB1751_HD1_TESTIMONY_HED_02-13-26_.PDF |
| Jan 29, 2026 | HB1751_TESTIMONY_PBS_01-30-26_.PDF |
Discussed in Hearing
3MIN
House Standing Committee on Higher Education
51SEC
House Standing Committee on Higher Education
3MIN
House Standing Committee on Public Safety
Bill Author
