SB171 expands the Hawaii Community College Promise Program to make scholarship assistance available to all qualified students enrolled at any University of Hawaii community college campus, rather than limiting awards to a greatest-need, available-funds basis. The bill states that each eligible student may receive assistance for up to eight semesters if they qualify for Hawaii resident tuition, complete the FAFSA each year (with an exception for certificate students), enroll in at least six credits per semester in a classified degree or certificate program, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and have unmet direct cost need.
The bill also changes how awards are calculated. Instead of distributing scholarships only to the extent funds are available, awards would equal a student’s unmet direct cost need after subtracting Pell Grants and other scholarships, with a separate needs calculation allowed for certificate students. To support the expanded eligibility, SB171 appropriates $20 million from general revenues for each of fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027, to be spent by the University of Hawaii. The measure would take effect on July 1, 2025.
Impact
SB171 would amend section 304A-506, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to broaden the statutory scope of the Hawaii Community College Promise Program and shift it from a limited, need-prioritized aid program to a more universal tuition-support model for qualified Hawaii residents. It would also create a recurring two-year general fund appropriation totaling $40 million to finance the expanded scholarship coverage, directly affecting the University of Hawaii system, community college students, and state budget allocations.
Sentiment
The bill’s stated purpose and findings reflect strong support for expanding access to higher education, reducing financial barriers, and increasing college-going rates, especially for economically disadvantaged students and groups with lower enrollment rates. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented opposition or amendment debate in the available materials; the overall tone of the bill text is affirmative and policy-driven.
Contention
The main policy tension in SB171 is fiscal and programmatic: it replaces a limited, greatest-need, available-funds structure with an entitlement-like scholarship model for all qualified students, which raises questions about cost, sustainability, and how broadly aid should be distributed. The bill itself anticipates this issue by estimating the cost at less than $20 million annually, but no external testimony or committee discussion is available here to show whether lawmakers, the University of Hawaii, or budget stakeholders disputed that estimate or the expansion approach.
A resolution to direct the Clerk of the House of Representatives to only present to the Governor enrolled House bills finally passed by both houses of the One Hundred Third Legislature.
Relating to nonsubstantive additions to, revisions of, and corrections in enacted codes, to the nonsubstantive codification or disposition of various laws omitted from enacted codes, and to conforming codifications enacted by the 88th Legislature to other Acts of that legislature.