{"id":232650,"date":"2026-04-21T09:51:54","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:51:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=232650"},"modified":"2026-04-23T11:47:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T21:47:22","slug":"2026-legislative-update-conference-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/21\/2026-legislative-update-conference-week\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 legislative update: Conference week begins as session nears end"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

\"Hawaii<\/p>\n

Aloha UH<\/abbr> ʻohana<\/span>,<\/p>\n

\"Salaveria
Luis Salaveria<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As the 2026 legislative session enters its final month, the Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Legislature is preparing to begin conference committee meetings to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of key bills. Given the challenges the state is facing in light of diminishing tax revenues and economic pressures resulting from both national and international events, there will be many competing positions for a finite amount of state resources. One of the most important aspects of this process is the state budget bill, HB1800 HD1 SD1<\/abbr>, which will determine funding levels for state departments, including the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Conference committee negotiations between the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means committees will shape the final outcome for both operating and capital improvement appropriations across state government. Like other departments, UH<\/abbr> will be closely monitoring these discussions as agreements are reached.<\/p>\n

Supplemental operating budget<\/h2>\n

Since it was approved by the UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents in November, the university\u2019s supplemental operating budget request has advanced through several stages of the legislative process. The regents approved a request totaling $18.8 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2027.<\/p>\n

The House of Representatives completed its draft budget (HD1<\/abbr>) in March and allocated $11.5 million toward UH<\/abbr> priorities. Most recently, the Senate passed its version of the budget (SD1<\/abbr>), which reduced general fund support for the university by $1.7 million compared with the House version. The Senate also added $5.7 million of special fund appropriations—adding programs to UH<\/abbr>\u2019s budget through appropriations from the Tuition and Fees Special Fund.<\/p>\n

With conference committee negotiations about to begin, the following table compares the Board of Regents request with the governor\u2019s proposal and the House and Senate versions of the operating budget:<\/p>\n

Operating Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Category<\/th>\nBOR<\/abbr><\/th>\nGov<\/th>\nHD1<\/th>\nSD1<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Healthcare Initiative<\/td>\n$3,724,600<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Athletics<\/td>\n$15,080,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aloha Safe Homes (GM2<\/abbr>)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$300,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Evaluate sea-level rise (GM2<\/abbr>)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Name, Image and Likeness (GM2<\/abbr>)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$5,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Support for UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center (GM5)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$5,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Support American Sign Language Programs<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$140,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Information Technology Services<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$150,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Community Resilience Hubs Pilot (UH<\/abbr> System)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Move CTAHR<\/abbr> from UOH100<\/abbr> to UOH120<\/abbr>*<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change funding source for 8 positions from General Fund to TFSF<\/abbr><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($595,824)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Change funding source for 8 positions from General Fund to TFSF<\/abbr><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$595,824<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reduce funds for UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($616,070)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reduce funds for JABSOM<\/abbr><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($248,184)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reduce funds for UH<\/abbr> Hilo<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($266,866)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3 Professors and Funds (TFSF<\/abbr>) for UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span><\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$319,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Professional Master Classes for Culinary at UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges (TFSF<\/abbr>)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$4,169,328<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waik\u012bk\u012b Aquarium Green Fee (Special Land and Development Fund)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$700,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reduce positions and funds (various campuses)**<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($6,079)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grand Total (General Funds)<\/td>\n$18,804,600<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n$11,590,000<\/strong><\/td>\n($1,733,023)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/td>\n$18,804,600<\/strong><\/td>\n <\/strong><\/td>\n$11,590,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$4,051,129<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Items in purple are Special Funded, not General Funded.<\/p>\n

*SD1<\/abbr> moves $20.2 million in General Funds out of UOH100<\/abbr> (UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa) into a new Program ID<\/abbr> UOH120<\/abbr> (CTAHR<\/abbr>)
\n**In total for UH<\/abbr>: 124 General Fund Permanent FTE<\/abbr>s, 13.15 General Fund Temporary FTE<\/abbr>s, 24 Special Fund Permanent FTE<\/abbr>s, 2 Federal Fund Permanent FTE<\/abbr>s, and 22 Revolving Fund Permanent FTE<\/abbr>s<\/p>\n

GM2<\/abbr> and GM5<\/abbr> were two budget Governor’s Messages sent by the Governor to the Legislature that added these items to his official budget request.<\/p>\n

Capital improvement program (CIP<\/abbr>) budget update<\/h2>\n

For the supplemental capital improvement projects (CIP<\/abbr>) budget, UH<\/abbr> requested $283.1 million in additional General Obligation (GO<\/abbr>) bond funding for FY<\/abbr>27 to support capital renewal, deferred maintenance and modernization projects across the 10-campus system. Debt service for GO bonds are paid by the state\u2019s general fund.<\/p>\n

The governor\u2019s budget included $137.3 million of this request. The House draft budget (HD1<\/abbr>) increased GO bond support to $219.3 million. The Senate draft (SD1<\/abbr>) reduced GO bond funding by $9.5 million and proposed appropriating $161.5 million from the UH<\/abbr> special funds, including the Tuition and Fees Special Fund to support capital projects. UH<\/abbr> President Hensel discussed the issue broadly at the April 16 UH<\/abbr> Board of Regents meeting, which can be viewed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The following table summarizes the CIP<\/abbr> comparison between the Board of Regents request and the governor, House and Senate versions of the budget:<\/p>\n

CIP Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Description<\/th>\nBOR<\/abbr> FY<\/abbr>27<\/th>\nGov FY<\/abbr>27<\/th>\nHD1 FY<\/abbr>27<\/th>\nSD1 General Obligation FY<\/abbr>27<\/th>\nSD1 Special Fund FY<\/abbr>27<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Student Housing<\/td>\n$59,250,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$28,500,000<\/td>\n($28,500,000)<\/td>\n$28,500,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> System Renew, Improve and Modernize (RIM<\/abbr>)<\/td>\n$100,000,000<\/td>\n$65,000,000<\/td>\n$80,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$65,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo RIM<\/abbr><\/td>\n$30,000,000<\/td>\n$9,500,000<\/td>\n$9,500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$9,500,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges Capital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance<\/td>\n$30,725,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> West Oʻahu<\/span> RIM<\/abbr><\/td>\n$5,000,000<\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Athletics Facilities<\/td>\n$11,000,000<\/td>\n$7,300,000<\/td>\n$11,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$11,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Community Colleges Minor CIP<\/abbr><\/td>\n$30,125,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n$20,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$10,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waik\u012bk\u012b Aquarium<\/td>\n$10,000,000<\/td>\n$7,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$7,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kapiʻolani<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Renovations for Health Program<\/td>\n$4,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$4,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Maui College Vocational Training Center Modernization<\/td>\n$3,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Hilo Student Housing<\/td>\n <\/td>\n$5,500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$5,500,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
UH<\/abbr> Maui College-Hale Modernization<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$9,000,000<\/td>\n$9,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waialeʻe<\/span> Livestock Research Station Improvements (CTAHR<\/abbr>)<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$3,500,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kauaʻi<\/span> CC<\/abbr> Housing<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$10,000,000<\/td>\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waik\u012bk\u012b Aquarium Ceiling Renovations<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n$2,000,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Project Adjustment Fund<\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n <\/td>\n($4,000)<\/td>\n$4,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/td>\n$283,100,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$137,300,000<\/strong><\/td>\n$188,500,000<\/strong><\/td>\n($9,504,000)<\/strong><\/td>\n$161,504,000<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Items in purple are Special Funded, not General Funded.<\/p>\n

What happens next<\/h2>\n

As conference committees begin their work, members will be negotiating across a wide range of priorities beyond the UH<\/abbr> budget. Because many conference committee decisions occur late in the session, final outcomes typically become clear closer to adjournment.<\/p>\n

The Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 8, 2026. I will provide an update after the session concludes to share the final outcomes for the university.<\/p>\n

Mahalo for your continued support of our students, campuses and the mission of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Luis P. Salaveria
\nVice President for Budget and Finance \/ Chief Financial Officer
\nUniversity of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most important aspects of this process is the state budget bill, HB1800 HD1 SD1<\/abbr>, which will determine funding levels for state departments, including the UH<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":189020,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1193],"tags":[61,62,63,64,65,71,14,9,60,947,59,66],"class_list":["post-232650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-administrative","tag-hawaii-community-college","tag-honolulu-community-college","tag-kapiolani-community-college","tag-kauai-community-college","tag-leeward-community-college","tag-uh-community-colleges","tag-uh-hilo","tag-uh-manoa","tag-maui-college","tag-uh-system","tag-uh-west-oahu","tag-windward-community-college","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/gnrc-hawaii-capitol-istock.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232650","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=232650"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232650\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":232887,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/232650\/revisions\/232887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/189020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=232650"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=232650"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=232650"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}