# Hawaii HB 2489: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Hawaii HB 2489, RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Dee Morikawa (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-03-10 (Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2489-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 2489
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-03-10, Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.
- Sponsor: Dee Morikawa (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 11
- Subjects: University of Hawaii, ASL Interpreter Training Program, Appropriation, EDU/HHS, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (116 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Appropriates moneys to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a master's degree program for interpreter training. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Dee Morikawa (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Terez Amato (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daisy Hartsfield (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Daniel Holt (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Tyson K. Miyake (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Ikaika Olds (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Amy A. Perruso (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jenna Takenouchi (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Shirley Ann Templo (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | House | House Floor Vote | pass | 49 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-25 | House | The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes ... | pass | 14 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-17 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN... | pass | 47 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 6 | 0 |   |

## Actions (13)

- 2026-03-10: Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM. (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 112). (Senate)
- 2026-03-06: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 806-26), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2026-03-05: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2026-02-25: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 14 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Hussey, Yamashita. (House)
- 2026-02-23: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-17: Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 301-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2026-02-17: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lee, M., Poepoe excused (3). (House)
- 2026-02-06: The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Kila, La Chica, Woodson, Souza. (House)
- 2026-02-03: Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-06-26 2:05PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2026-02-02: Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6 (House)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_HD1_.pdf)
- HB2489_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB2489_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2489_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2489-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).