HB2489 • 2026

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: MORIKAWA, AMATO, GARRETT, HARTSFIELD, HOLT, KEOHOKAPU-LEE LOY, KILA, MIYAKE, OLDS, PERRUSO, TAKENOUCHI, TEMPLO
Last action: 2026-03-10
Official status: Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.

What This Bill Does

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
University of Hawaii; ASL Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation ($) 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)

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: HB2489 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.

HB2489 HD1 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.B.
NO.
2489 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII .

Bill History

2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.
2026-03-06 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-06 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 112).
2026-03-05 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-05 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 806-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-02-25 H
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.
2026-02-23 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-17 H
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).
2026-02-17 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 301-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-02-06 H
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.
2026-02-03 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Friday, 02-06-26 2:05PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-02 H
Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 6
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII.
University of Hawaii; ASL Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation ($)
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)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2489

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2489

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING
TO the UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that Hawaii faces a growing shortage of qualified American
Sign Language interpreters.
�
The 2024
report by the disability and communication access board, Assessment of American
Sign Language Interpreting Services and the Interpreter Shortage in Hawaii,
recommends establishing an American Sign Language interpreter training program
within the university of Hawaii system.

����
The legislature further finds that Hawaii
is one of only eight states that does not have an American Sign Language interpreter
training program.
�
More than two hundred
certificate, associate, bachelor, and graduate level interpreter training
programs are offered nationwide.

����
The legislature believes that establishing
a bachelor's degree program in sign language interpretation with a multi-year
plan to include a master's degree program will eliminate the shortage of American
Sign Language interpreters in the State and provide an academic and career path
for Hawaii residents to become skilled professionals.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to address
the State's American Sign Language interpreter shortage by appropriating moneys
to establish a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation
at the university of Hawaii at Manoa campus with a multi-year plan to include a
master's degree program.

����
SECTION 2.
�

There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $140,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2026-2027 to:

����
(1)
�
Establish
a bachelor's degree program in American Sign Language interpretation at the
university of Hawaii Manoa campus;

����
(2)
�
Develop
a multi-year interpreter training program to include a master�s degree in American
Sign Language interpretation; and

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(3)
�
Provide
personnel and administrative resources necessary to launch and sustain the
programs.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the university of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 3.
�

This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University
of Hawaii; ASL Interpreter Training Program; Appropriation

Description:

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.

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