SB2138 • 2026

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: ELEFANTE, CHANG, FUKUNAGA, MCKELVEY, RICHARDS, Hashimoto, Inouye, San Buenaventura
Last action: 2026-05-08
Official status: Enrolled to Governor.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about residency requirements or additional qualifications beyond being a resident as defined by the Board of Regents.

Hawaii National Guard Tuition Assistance Program Expansion

This bill allows the Adjutant General to include graduate degree programs at the University of Hawaii in the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program for qualified enlisted personnel.

What This Bill Does

Expands the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (STAP) to cover graduate degrees.
Allows eligible members of the Hawaii National Guard to receive tuition assistance for graduate studies at the University of Hawaii.

Who It Names or Affects

Enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard who are pursuing or plan to pursue a graduate degree.
The University of Hawaii, which will see an increase in students eligible for tuition assistance through this program.

Terms To Know

Adjutant General: A high-ranking military officer who is responsible for the administration and training of a state's National Guard.
Tuition Assistance Program (STAP): A program that provides financial support to help members of the Hawaii National Guard pay for their education at the University of Hawaii.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how much funding will be available for this expansion.
It is unclear if there are any limits on which graduate programs qualify under this new provision.

Amendments

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

CD1

Hawaii published version CD1

Plain English: SB2138 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2138 CD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2138 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII C.D.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2138 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2138 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2138 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 H.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM .

Bill History

2026-05-08 S
Enrolled to Governor.
2026-05-08 S
Received notice of passage on Final Reading in House (Hse. Com. No. 888).
2026-05-06 H
Received notice of Final Reading (Sen. Com. No. 816).
2026-05-06 H
Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0).
2026-05-06 S
Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.
2026-05-01 H
Forty-eight (48) hours notice Wednesday, 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 H
Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 98-26) as amended in (CD 1).
2026-05-01 S
48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.
2026-05-01 S
Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 98-26).
2026-04-29 H
The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Garrett, Morikawa, Iwamoto, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-29 S
The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kim, Lee, C.; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.
2026-04-27 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-29-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-24 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-27-26 1:45PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-23 S
Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-26 1:40PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-22 S
Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-23-26 4:00PM; Conference Room 016.
2026-04-22 H
Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 720).
2026-04-21 S
Senate Conferees Appointed: Fukunaga Chair; Kim, Lee, C. Co-Chairs.
2026-04-21 S
Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 800).
2026-04-21 H
House Conferees Appointed: Belatti, Garrett, Morikawa Co-Chairs; Iwamoto, Souza.
2026-04-16 H
Received notice of disagreement (Sen. Com. No. 710).
2026-04-16 S
Senate disagrees with House amendments.
2026-04-16 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 629).
2026-04-14 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and none excused (0). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-04-10 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2099-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-04-08 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-04-06 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 04-08-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-30 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan excused (4).
2026-03-30 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1496-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-03-25 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 7 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Evslin, Woodson, Muraoka.
2026-03-20 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 03-25-26 2:10PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-18 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 none excused (0).
2026-03-18 H
Reported from PBS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1211-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2026-03-16 H
The committee on PBS recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 8 Ayes: Representative(s) Belatti, Iwamoto, Hashem, Morikawa, Poepoe, Woodson, Shimizu, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ichiyama.
2026-03-12 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Monday, 03-16-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-12 H
This measure has been deleted from the meeting scheduled on Friday 03-13-26 9:00AM in conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-11 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by PBS on Friday, 03-13-26 9:00AM in House conference room 411 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to PBS, HED, FIN, referral sheet 16
2026-03-10 H
Pass First Reading
2026-03-06 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 41).
2026-03-06 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Ihara). Transmitted to House.
2026-03-05 S
One Day Notice 03-06-26.
2026-03-05 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2858) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-03 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Richards, Wakai; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-02-25 S
The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 03-03-26 10:15AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-23 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-25-26 10:57AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-19 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM.
2026-02-19 S
Reported from PSM/EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2379) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to WAM.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Kidani, Fukunaga, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on PSM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in PSM were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Fukunaga, Lee, C., DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Hashimoto, Inouye.
2026-02-10 S
The committee(s) on PSM/EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 3:02PM; Conference Room 016 & Videoconference.
2026-01-22 S
Referred to PSM/EDU, WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-14 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD STATE TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Department of Defense; UH; STAP; 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 enlisted personnel in the Hawaii National Guard. (CD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2138

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2138

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.