# Hawaii HB 542: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM.

Hawaii HB 542, RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1) House bill sponsored by Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic); status passed house, last action 2025-03-04 (Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 108).) (as of 2026-10-28).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB542-2025
- As of: 2026-10-28
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii HB 542
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 1)
- Title: RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII PROMISE PROGRAM.
- Status: passed house
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-01-17
- Last action: 2025-03-04, Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 108).
- Sponsor: Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 5
- Subjects: University of Hawaii, Scholarships, Appropriation, HRE, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Expands the Hawaii promise program to provide scholarships for the unmet needs of qualified students at any four-year university of Hawaii campus who meet certain criteria. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Andrew Takuya Garrett (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Jeanne Kapela (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Darius K. Kila (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: LA CHICA
- Cosponsor: Ikaika Olds (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kanani Souza (Republican), House

## Actions (14)

- 2025-03-04: Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 108). (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-03-04: Referred to HRE, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-02-28: Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 915), recommending passage on Third Reading. (House)
- 2025-02-28: Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick, Templo, Ward excused (4). Transmitted to Senate. (House)
- 2025-02-21: The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 12 Ayes: Representative(s) Yamashita, Takenouchi, Grandinetti, Holt, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lamosao, Miyake, Templo, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Lee, M., Morikawa, Alcos, Ward. (House)
- 2025-02-19: Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Friday, 02-21-25 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-02-11: Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 408) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN. (House)
- 2025-02-11: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka, Pierick voting no (3) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2). (House)
- 2025-02-07: The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Muraoka. (House)
- 2025-02-04: Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-07-25 2:00PM in University of Hawaii at Manoa, Bachman Hall, Board of Regents Conference Room 106, 2444 Dole Street VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Introduced and Pass First Reading. (House)
- 2025-01-21: Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 2 (House)
- 2025-01-17: Pending introduction. (House)

## Bill text

- Bill Text: [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_HD1_.pdf)
- HB542_HD1: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_HD1_.HTM)
- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES. (signed)
- SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY. (signed)
- HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS. (signed)
- HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION. (signed)

## Sources
- [Bill Text (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_HD1_.pdf)
- [HB542_HD1 (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_HD1_.HTM)
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2025/bills/HB542_.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 572: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB572-2025)
- [HB 431: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB431-2025)
- [HB 420: RELATING TO REMEDIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB420-2025)
- [SB 1296: RELATING TO DISASTER RECOVERY.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB1296-2025)
- [HB 830: RELATING TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEWS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB830-2025)
- [HB 1064: RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1064-2025)
- [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-HB542-2025 (as of 2026-10-28).