RELATING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII SYSTEM.

SB2755

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2755

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the university of hawaii system
.

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

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SECTION 1.
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The legislature finds that, as the indigenous
people of Hawaii, Native Hawaiians have a unique historical, cultural, and
political relationship with the State of Hawaii.
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This relationship is rooted in the
recognition of Hawaii as an independent nation prior to its unlawful overthrow
in 1893, the subsequent annexation, and the continued commitment of the State
of Hawaii to support Native Hawaiian advancement, as codified in the Hawaii
State Constitution and Hawaii Revised Statutes.

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The
legislature further finds that providing a tuition waiver or remission program
for Native Hawaiians at the university of Hawaii system is consistent with the
policies adopted in other states that recognize indigenous populations. Just as
Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, and Montana have enacted laws to ensure access
to higher education for Native American and Alaska Native students, Hawaii
should create a parallel tuition benefit for Native Hawaiians.

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The
legislature additionally finds that Native Hawaiian education is currently
under threat from ongoing inequities, reduced resources, and the erosion of
programs specifically designed to serve Native Hawaiian students,
and is a matter of statewide concern pursuant to article
X, section 6, of the Hawaii State Constitution.

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The
legislature further finds that Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop's vision and
legacy, through the Kamehameha Schools, was to provide educational
opportunities to Native Hawaiians so they could thrive in their homeland.
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The establishment of a tuition waiver for
Native Hawaiians enrolling within the university of Hawaii system would take
her vision to the next step, ensuring higher education access across the public
university system, strengthening pathways from kindergarten through twelfth
grade to higher education, and fulfilling the State's constitutional mandate to
promote the well-being of Native Hawaiians.

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The
legislature notes that the university of Hawaii has not fully paid its
obligations for the use of public trust lands that are designated for the
betterment of Native Hawaiians, as required by the Hawaii State Constitution
and Hawaii Revised Statutes.
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This
ongoing failure underscores the importance of creating a tuition waiver program
as one way to rectify historic and current shortcomings in advancing Native
Hawaiian education and equity.

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The
purpose of this Act is to require the university of Hawaii to provide higher
education tuition waivers for qualifying native Hawaiian and Hawaiian students enrolled
in the university of Hawaii system.

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SECTION
2.
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Chapter 304A, Hawaii Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and
to read as follows:

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�304A-
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Tuition waivers; Native Hawaiian; Hawaiian.

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(a)
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Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, the board of regents shall
grant a waiver on all tuition for a student enrolled at a campus within the
university of Hawaii system who is native Hawaiian or Hawaiian, as those terms
are defined in section 10-2; provided that the student is in possession of a
card issued by the office of Hawaiian affairs identifying the student as a
person included in the Hawaiian registry under section 10-19 shall constitute
conclusive proof that the student is native Hawaiian or Hawaiian.

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(b)
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The university shall adopt rules pursuant to
chapter 91 necessary to implement this section.
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SECTION
3.
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New statutory material is
underscored.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University
of Hawaii; Board of Regents; Tuition Waiver; Native Hawaiians

Description:

Requires
the Board of Regents to grant a waiver on all tuition for qualifying native Hawaiian
and Hawaiian students enrolled within the University of Hawaii System.

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