# Hawaii HB 2617: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO.

Hawaii HB 2617, RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) House bill sponsored by Chris Todd (Democratic); status failed, last action 2026-02-11 (Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 135-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2617-2026
- 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 2617
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT HILO.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2026-01-28
- Last action: 2026-02-11, Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 135-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.
- Sponsor: Chris Todd (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: UH Hilo, College of Hawaiian Language, Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach, Imiloa Astronomy Center, Hawaiian Language, Hawaiian Early Learning, Revolving Fund, Trust Fund, Uses, HED, JHA, FIN
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (59 yes, 1 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Establishes the Institute of Indigenous Education, Science, and Outreach within the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Authorizes the Hawaiian Language College Revolving Fund to include moneys from any revenue source and requires expenditures in the fund to be used to support the Imiloa Astronomy Center. Requires the Hawaiian Early Learning Trust Fund to support the Hawaiian-Language-Medium Education Pathway. Establishes a cap on individual deposits into the Hawaiian Language College Revolving Fund and the Hawaiian Early Learning Trust Fund. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Chris Todd (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-11 | House | Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA... | pass | 49 | 1 |   |
| 2026-02-06 | House | The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The ... | pass | 10 | 0 |   |

## Actions (6)

- 2026-02-11: Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 135-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA. (House)
- 2026-02-11: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on JHA with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Holt excused (1). (House)
- 2026-02-06: The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none. (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, JHA, 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/HB2617_HD1_.pdf)
- HB2617_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2617_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2617_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2617_.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/HB2617_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB2617_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2617_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2617_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/HB2617_.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)
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- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2617-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).