HB 2518: University of Hawaii System; Facilities and Student Housing; Master Plan; Appropriation

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the university of Hawaii operates a geographically dispersed system of campuses that serve diverse student populations across the State, including recent high school graduates, adult learners, workforce trainees, graduate and professional students, and students from neighbor islands and rural communities.

     The legislature further finds that Hawaii is experiencing significant demographic change, including declining numbers of traditional college-age students, increasing numbers of adult and returning learners, and evolving workforce demands in critical fields such as health care, education, energy, and technology.  These trends are reshaping enrollment patterns across the university of Hawaii system and placing new and uneven demands on instructional space, laboratories, clinical training facilities, research infrastructure, and student housing.

     The legislature additionally finds that the cost, availability, and configuration of student housing directly affect access to higher education, student retention and completion, and the university's ability to train a workforce that meets the State's needs.  At the same time, long-term facilities and housing planning must account for fiscal constraints, land use considerations, capital improvement timelines, and opportunities for innovative financing and partnerships.

     The legislature recognizes that while the university of Hawaii has engaged in campus-level planning efforts, there is value in a coordinated, systemwide approach that aligns facilities and student housing planning with enrollment projections, workforce priorities, and capital planning processes, particularly during a period of demographic and economic transition.  As such, this is a matter of statewide concern.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the university of Hawaii to develop and maintain a comprehensive, systemwide facilities and student housing master plan to support the university's academic, research, and workforce development missions while also being responsive to changes to demographic, enrollment, and labor market trends.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-     Facilities and student housing master plan.  (a)  Beginning           , the university shall develop and maintain a statewide facilities and student housing master plan that supports the academic, research, and workforce development missions of the university and reflects changing demographic, enrollment, and labor market trends.

     (b)  The master plan shall, at a minimum, include:

     (1)  Enrollment and demographic analysis, including:

          (A)  Systemwide and campus-level enrollment trends and projections;

          (B)  Shifts in student composition, including increases or decreases in adult learners, part-time students, graduate and professional students, and workforce-focused learners; and

          (C)  Implications of these trends for instructional space, training facilities, and housing demand;

     (2)  Facilities assessment, including:

          (A)  An inventory of existing instructional, laboratory, clinical, research, and support facilities across the university system;

          (B)  Identification of facilities constraints or gaps that may affect academic programs, workforce training, or research activities; and

          (C)  Consideration of the condition, utilization, and adaptability of existing facilities;

     (3)  Student housing needs analysis, including:

          (A)  Current and projected housing demand by campus and student population, including first-year students, neighbor island students, graduate and professional students, and short-term or workforce program participants;

          (B)  Evaluation of different housing typologies, including traditional residence halls, graduate or family housing, short-term or modular housing, and other flexible housing models; and

          (C)  Assessment of how housing availability and affordability affect student access, retention, and completion;

     (4)  Alignment with workforce and academic priorities, including:

          (A)  Identification of facilities and housing considerations related to high-priority workforce areas, including health care, education, and other in-demand fields;

          (B)  Consideration of how facilities and housing planning supports partnerships with hospitals, clinics, employers, and community organizations; and

          (C)  Integration with short-term workforce education and training programs offered by the university;

     (5)  Capital planning and financing considerations, including:

          (A)  Identification of potential capital improvement priorities related to facilities and student housing;

          (B)  Discussion of phasing, sequencing, and timing considerations;

          (C)  Overview of potential financing approaches, including public-private partnerships, lease arrangements, or other innovative models, as appropriate; and

          (D)  Alignment with the university's existing capital improvement planning processes.

     (c)  The university shall update the master plan no less frequently than once every six years to reflect updated data, projections, and institutional priorities.  The university may update the master plan on a more frequent basis if the university deems an update is appropriate.

     (d)  The university shall submit an initial report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028 and submit the master plan, and any updates thereto, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session following completion of the master plan or any update to the master plan.

     (e)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

     (1)  Require the construction of any specific facility or housing project;

     (2)  Mandate the expansion or reduction of student housing at any university campus;

     (3)  Limit the authority of the university to manage its facilities, housing, or capital planning decisions; or

     (4)  Create any entitlement to funding or capital appropriations."

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the hiring of consultants and information systems improvements.

     The sum appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii System; Facilities and Student Housing; Master Plan; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan.  Requires reports to the Legislature.  Appropriates funds.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the university of hawaii.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the university of Hawaii operates a geographically dispersed system of campuses that serve diverse student populations across the State, including recent high school graduates, adult learners, workforce trainees, graduate and professional students, and students from neighbor islands and rural communities.

     The legislature further finds that Hawaii is experiencing significant demographic change, including declining numbers of traditional college-age students, increasing numbers of adult and returning learners, and evolving workforce demands in critical fields such as health care, education, energy, and technology.  These trends are reshaping enrollment patterns across the university of Hawaii system and placing new and uneven demands on instructional space, laboratories, clinical training facilities, research infrastructure, and student housing.

     The legislature additionally finds that the cost, availability, and configuration of student housing directly affect access to higher education, student retention and completion, and the university's ability to train a workforce that meets the State's needs.  At the same time, long-term facilities and housing planning must account for fiscal constraints, land use considerations, capital improvement timelines, and opportunities for innovative financing and partnerships.

     The legislature recognizes that while the university of Hawaii has engaged in campus-level planning efforts, there is value in a coordinated, systemwide approach that aligns facilities and student housing planning with enrollment projections, workforce priorities, and capital planning processes, particularly during a period of demographic and economic transition.  As such, this is a matter of statewide concern. 

     The purpose of this Act is to require the university of Hawaii to develop and maintain a comprehensive, systemwide facilities and student housing master plan to support the university's academic, research, and workforce development missions while also being responsive to changes to demographic, enrollment, and labor market trends.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§304A-     Facilities and student housing master plan.  (a)  Beginning           , the university shall develop and maintain a statewide facilities and student housing master plan that supports the academic, research, and workforce development missions of the university and reflects changing demographic, enrollment, and labor market trends.

     (b)  The master plan shall, at a minimum, include:

     (1)  Enrollment and demographic analysis, including:

          (A)  Systemwide and campus-level enrollment trends and projections;

          (B)  Shifts in student composition, including increases or decreases in adult learners, part-time students, graduate and professional students, and workforce-focused learners; and

          (C)  Implications of these trends for instructional space, training facilities, and housing demand;

     (2)  Facilities assessment, including:

          (A)  An inventory of existing instructional, laboratory, clinical, research, and support facilities across the university system;

          (B)  Identification of facilities constraints or gaps that may affect academic programs, workforce training, or research activities; and

          (C)  Consideration of the condition, utilization, and adaptability of existing facilities;

     (3)  Student housing needs analysis, including:

          (A)  Current and projected housing demand by campus and student population, including first-year students, neighbor island students, graduate and professional students, and short-term or workforce program participants;

          (B)  Evaluation of different housing typologies, including traditional residence halls, graduate or family housing, short-term or modular housing, and other flexible housing models; and

          (C)  Assessment of how housing availability and affordability affect student access, retention, and completion;

     (4)  Alignment with workforce and academic priorities, including:

          (A)  Identification of facilities and housing considerations related to high-priority workforce areas, including health care, education, and other in-demand fields;

          (B)  Consideration of how facilities and housing planning supports partnerships with hospitals, clinics, employers, and community organizations; and

          (C)  Integration with short-term workforce education and training programs offered by the university;

     (5)  Capital planning and financing considerations, including:

          (A)  Identification of potential capital improvement priorities related to facilities and student housing;

          (B)  Discussion of phasing, sequencing, and timing considerations;

          (C)  Overview of potential financing approaches, including public-private partnerships, lease arrangements, or other innovative models, as appropriate; and

          (D)  Alignment with the university's existing capital improvement planning processes.

     (c)  The university shall update the master plan no less frequently than once every five years to reflect updated data, projections, and institutional priorities.  The university may update the master plan on a more frequent basis if the university deems an update is appropriate.

     (d)  The university shall submit the master plan, and any updates thereto, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session following completion of the master plan or any update to the master plan.

     (e)  Nothing in this section shall be construed to:

     (1)  Require the construction of any specific facility or housing project;

     (2)  Mandate the expansion or reduction of student housing at any university campus;

     (3)  Limit the authority of the university to manage its facilities, housing, or capital planning decisions; or

     (4)  Create any entitlement to funding or capital appropriations."

     SECTION 3.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

University of Hawaii System; Facilities and Student Housing; Master Plan

Description:

Requires the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan.  Requires reports to the Legislature.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  134-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2026

RE:   H.B. No. 2518

      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. 2518 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to require the University of Hawaii to develop a facilities and student housing master plan.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; CARES; and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's shifting demographic and workforce landscape is creating uneven enrollment patterns and increasing pressure on instructional facilities, research infrastructure, and student housing across the University of Hawaii System.  Your Committee further finds that these challenges call for a coordinated, systemwide approach to facilities and housing planning that aligns with projected enrollment, workforce priorities, and capital planning needs.  This measure will ensure that the University develops an integrated master plan to support academic excellence, expand workforce training capacity, and improve student access and success statewide.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the frequency of updates to the master plan from every five years to every six years;

     (2)  Specifying that the University of Hawaii shall submit an initial report to the Legislature before the 2028 Regular Session;

     (3)  Inserting an appropriation for an unspecified amount for the University of Hawaii to hire consultants and to make improvements to information systems;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     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. 2518, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2518, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Housing.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education,