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HB617 • 2026
RELATING TO NURSING.
RELATING TO NURSING.
Budget
Education
Active
The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.
- Sponsor
- WOODSON, MIYAKE, POEPOE
- Last action
- 2025-12-08
- Official status
- Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Effective date
- Not listed
Plain English Breakdown
Checked against official source text during the last sync.
Funding to Establish a Nursing Program
This bill provides funding to establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Hawaii Maui College.
What This Bill Does
- Appropriates $100,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $60,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to cover increased demand for prerequisite courses.
- Allocates $90,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 and $60,000 for fiscal year 2026-2027 to hire additional staff needed for the new program.
- Provides $60,000 each year from 2025-2026 to 2026-2027 for supplies and equipment upgrades.
- Funds $250,000 in fiscal year 2026-2027 for the third-year nursing courses after the program starts.
Who It Names or Affects
- The University of Hawaii Maui College
- Nursing students at the college
Terms To Know
- Appropriation
- Money set aside by the government for a specific purpose.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)
- A degree program that prepares students to become professional nurses with advanced skills and knowledge.
Limits and Unknowns
- The bill does not specify how many students will be enrolled or the exact number of staff hired.
- It is unclear if there are enough resources for long-term sustainability of the nursing program beyond initial funding.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Hawaii published version HD1
Plain English: This amendment allocates funds to establish a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the University of Hawaii Maui College.
- Allocates money for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to cover costs related to prerequisite courses, personnel, supplies, equipment upgrades, and instructional expenses for the new nursing program.
- The exact dollar amounts needed for each fiscal year are not specified in the amendment text.
- The effective date of July 1, 3000 is likely a placeholder or error and needs clarification.
Bill History
-
2025-12-08
D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
-
2025-02-11
H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
-
2025-02-11
H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 402) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
-
2025-02-05
H
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, La Chica, Olds, Sayama, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Kila.
-
2025-01-31
H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-05-25 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
-
2025-01-21
H
Referred to HED, FIN, referral sheet 2
-
2025-01-21
H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
-
2025-01-17
H
Pending introduction.
Official Summary Text
RELATING TO NURSING.
Nursing; UH Maui College; BS Nursing Established; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to establish the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the University of Hawaii Maui College. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB617
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
617
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to nursing
.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
����
SECTION 1.
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The
legislature finds that Hawaii faces a growing nursing workforce shortage, with
the current demand for nurses exceeding supply by approximately one thousand positions.
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Experts have recommended expanding the
capacity of university nursing programs to help reduce nursing workforce
shortages.
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The legislature further finds that the
county of Maui is the largest county in the State without a college or
university bachelor of science in nursing degree program.
�
The university of Hawaii Maui college's nursing
program offers two degrees:
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a certificate
of achievement and an associate in science nursing.
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Students who earn an associate in science nursing
must then transfer to the bachelor of science in nursing pathway at the
university of Hawaii at Manoa to further their education.
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The legislature believes that offering a bachelor
of science in nursing program at the university of Hawaii Maui college can help
to increase the supply of nurse graduates, reduce the nursing workforce
shortage, and allow Maui nursing students to remain on Maui during their entire
course of study.
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The legislature declares that the
establishment of a bachelor of science in nursing program in the county of Maui
is a matter of statewide concern.
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The purpose of this Act is to appropriate moneys
for the establishment of a bachelor of science in nursing degree program at the
university of Hawaii Maui college.
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SECTION 2.
�
There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $100,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the sum of $60,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2026-2027 to meet the increased demand for prerequisite courses by
students newly enrolled in the bachelor of science in nursing degree program at
the university of Hawaii Maui college.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the
purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 3.
�
There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $90,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the sum of $60,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for
fiscal year 2026-2027 for additional personnel associated with establishment of
the bachelor of science in nursing degree program at the university of Hawaii
Maui college.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the
purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 4.
�
There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $60,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal
year 2026-2027 for supplies, equipment, and simulation and laboratory upgrades associated
with establishment of the bachelor of science in nursing degree program at the
university of Hawaii Maui college.
����
The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the
purposes of this Act.
����
SECTION 5.
�
There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $250,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year
2026-2027 for instructional costs associated with providing a third year of
nursing courses following the establishment of the bachelor of science in nursing
degree program at the university of Hawaii Maui college.
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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 6.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
Report Title:
Nursing;
UH Maui College; BS Nursing Established; Appropriation
Description:
Appropriates
funds to establish the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program at the
University of Hawaii Maui College.
�
Appropriates
funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.