HB1751 • 2026

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Education

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: BELATTI, IWAMOTO, SHIMIZU, SOUZA
Last action: 2026-02-18
Official status: Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about residency requirements or funding availability, which were removed from the explanation.

Hawaii National Guard Tuition Assistance Program Expansion

This bill allows the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to cover graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified personnel.

What This Bill Does

Expands the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degree programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Qualified personnel in the Hawaii National Guard who are pursuing graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii.

Terms To Know

Adjutant General: The highest-ranking officer responsible for managing and commanding the state's military forces, including the National Guard.
Tuition Assistance Program: A program that provides financial support to help cover educational expenses for members of the military or National Guard.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be available for this expansion.
It is unclear when exactly the expanded program will start, as it currently states an effective date of January 1, 3000 (likely a placeholder).

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment allows the Adjutant General to provide tuition assistance for graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii to qualified personnel in the Hawaii National Guard.

Expands eligibility for the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degree students.

The amendment specifies an effective date of January 1, 3000, which seems unrealistic and likely indicates a placeholder or error in the text.

Bill History

2026-02-18 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-02-18 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 403-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-13 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila.
2026-02-10 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-13-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-03 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kitagawa excused (1).
2026-02-03 H
Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2026-01-30 H
The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Ichiyama, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-01-27 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 01-30-26 11:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-26 H
Referred to PBS, HED, FIN, referral sheet 1
2026-01-22 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Department of Defense; University of Hawaii; State Tuition Assistance Program; Graduate Degree
Authorizes the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for qualified personnel in the Hawaii National Guard. Effective 1/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1751

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1751

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the hawaii national guard state tuition assistance program
.

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

����
SECTION
1
.
�
Section 121-45, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

����
"(a)
�

The adjutant general, subject to the availability of funds, may award
tuition assistance to qualified enlisted persons, warrant officers, and company
grade officers (0-1 through 0-3) in the Hawaii national guard who are:

����
(1)
�
Residents
of the State, as defined by the board of regents pursuant to section [
[
]304A-402[
]
];
and

����
(2)
�
Undergraduate

and graduate
students working toward a degree on any campus of the [
University
]

university
of Hawaii."

����
SECTION 2.
�

Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

����
SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Department
of Defense; UH; STAP; Graduate Degree

Description:

Authorizes
the Adjutant General to expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition
Assistance Program to include graduate degrees at the University of Hawaii for
qualified enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard.

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