Kalbert Young, 东精影业 vice president for budget and finance and chief financial officer, shares his analysis of the 2025 Legislative session.
Aloha,
Before providing an update on the 2025 legislative session, I want to emphasize that the budget requests currently moving through the Legislature were submitted prior to the new federal administration taking office.
This may be an important fact, because 东精影业—along with other state agencies—are currently assessing potential program impacts in anticipation of directed reductions in federal funding. Though the scope and specifics remain uncertain for the most part, the assessment of the financial implications is growing.
For our 10-campus system, these potential reductions could affect a wide range of areas, including student services, scholarships, programs, and research initiatives. In the coming weeks, 东精影业 leaders will be engaging with state legislators to discuss these anticipated shortfalls and explore potential solutions. I expect to have more information to share in my next budget update in mid-April.
Operating budget update
March 6 marked the first major deadline of the current legislative session, known as first crossover. At this stage, Senate bills move to the House of Representatives, and House bills cross over to the Senate. As of now, approximately 200 bills remain active that could have either a direct or indirect impact on 东精影业.
A key measure advancing in the process is the biennial budget bill (HB 300 HD1), which recently passed from the House to the Senate, where it will now be reviewed by the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. HB 300 HD1 includes portions of the 东精影业 Board of Regents (BOR) biennial budget request, which was approved in November.
The BOR-approved request totaled $37.9 million in additional general funds for Fiscal Year 2025–26 (FY26) and $38.8 million for Fiscal Year 2026–27 (FY27). The House version of the budget bill appropriated $31.1 million for FY26 and $32.1 million for FY27.
The following table outlines the BOR operating budget requests, the governor’s executive budget proposal and the House’s approved funding levels in the HB 300 HD1.
| Campus | Project Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents | Governor | House | |||||
| FY26 | FY27 | FY26 | FY27 | FY26 | FY27 | ||
| Permanent Funding | |||||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Make Mānoa Athletics subsidy permanent | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 | $3,200,000 |
| 东精影业 Mānoa | HIMB Positions from Act 181/23 | $246,118 | $246,118 | $246,118 | $246,118 | $246,118 | $246,118 |
| 东精影业 Mānoa | K–12 Expanded Teaching Cohort from Act 141/22 | $420,556 | $375,556 | ||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Pamantasan Council from Act 64/23 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 | $85,500 |
| 东精影业 Hilo | Make Hilo Athletics subsidy permanent | $800,000 | $800,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 | $500,000 |
| 东精影业 Hilo | Full Year funding for BS in Education Studies and Kahuawaiola Indigenous Teacher Education | $142,500 | $142,500 | $142,500 | $142,500 | $142,500 | $142,500 |
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Windward CC Mental Health Tech Certificate of Competence Program from Act 107/24 | $210,150 | $210,150 | $210,150 | $210,150 | $210,150 | $210,150 |
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Maui College Practical Nursing Bridge Program from Act 74/23 | $330,000 | $330,000 | $330,000 | $330,000 | $330,000 | $330,000 |
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Pamantasan Council from Act 64/23 | $196,000 | $196,000 | $196,000 | $196,000 | $196,000 | $196,000 |
| Hawaiʻi Promise | |||||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Hawaiʻi Promise Program Expansion | $8,683,397 | $8,683,397 | ||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Hawaiʻi Promise Program Expansion | $920,938 | $920,938 | ||||
| 东精影业 West Oʻahu | Hawaiʻi Promise Program Expansion | $2,451,832 | $2,451,832 | ||||
| Student Support | |||||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Financial Aid Counselors | $904,152 | $904,152 | $199,440 | $398,880 | $199,440 | $398,880 |
| 东精影业 Hilo | Retention Coordinator | $37,500 | $75,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Internship Coordinator | $37,500 | $75,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Student Enrollment Management | $432,500 | $640,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 West Oʻahu | Admissions and Financial Aid | $213,600 | $213,600 | $37,650 | $75,300 | $37,650 | $75,300 |
| Workforce Development – Nursing | |||||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | 东精影业 Mānoa-东精影业 West Oʻahu Nursing Collaboration Phase III | $447,936 | $447,936 | $447,936 | $447,936 | $447,936 | $447,936 |
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Online RN to BS Program | $111,984 | $111,984 | ||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Increase School of Nursing cohort size | $297,500 | $595,000 | $357,500 | $475,000 | $357,500 | $475,000 |
| 东精影业 West Oʻahu | Pre-Nursing Pathway | $424,364 | $424,364 | $107,776 | $215,552 | $107,776 | $215,552 |
| Workforce Development – Other | |||||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Administration of Justice Program Expansion | $75,000 | $150,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Data Science Program | $42,500 | $85,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Biocultural Science Program | $85,000 | $170,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 West Oʻahu | Teacher Preparation Programs | $90,455 | $90,455 | ||||
| Medical Facilities | |||||||
| JABSOM | Debt service for Kakaʻako Health and Wellness Campus | $2,725,000 | $2,725,000 | $1,108,019 | $1,533,463 | $1,108,019 | $1,533,463 |
| 东精影业 Cancer Center | Debt service and operational costs | $6,857,810 | $6,857,810 | $9,476,352 | $9,441,861 | $9,476,352 | $9,441,861 |
| Other Requests – Core Functions | |||||||
| JABSOM | Central Chiller Plant Operations | $63,000 | $63,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Groundskeepers | $101,280 | $202,560 | ||||
| 东精影业 West Oʻahu | ACM Facilities and Core Services | $341,748 | $341,748 | $66,888 | $133,776 | $66,888 | $133,776 |
| 东精影业 System | Information Security | $1,500,000 | $1,500,000 | ||||
| Other | |||||||
| 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 | Expand Concussion Education to Middle Schools | $200,000 | $200,000 | ||||
| JABSOM | Focus on cardiovascular disease and treatment | $700,000 | $700,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 | Convert Athletics Positions and Additional Support | $4,519,341 | $4,519,341 | $320,000 | $320,000 | $320,000 | $320,000 |
| Governor’s Message | |||||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Pamantasan Council (additional funds) | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | ||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Economic and Policy Research at 东精影业ERO | $480,000 | $480,000 | $480,000 | $480,000 | ||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Athletics | $12,800,000 | $12,800,000 | $12,800,000 | $12,800,000 | ||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Rat lungworm research | $200,000 | $200,000 | $1 | $1 | ||
| 东精影业 Hilo | Athletics | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 | $300,000 | ||
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Pamantasan Council (additional funds) | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | $175,000 | ||
| 东精影业 System | Peace Program support staff | $150,000 | $150,000 | $1 | $1 | ||
| House Add-on | |||||||
| 东精影业 System | I Hoa Nā Moʻolelo | $179,378 | $179,378 | ||||
| TOTAL | $37,895,161 | $38,733,941 | $31,311,829 | $32,232,036 | $31,141,209 | $32,061,416 | |
Non-recurring items in red.
Capital Improvement Projects budget update
On the 东精影业 capital improvement projects (CIP) budget, the 东精影业 request was for $381.0 million for FY26 and $331.2 million for FY27 for modernization and to address deferred maintenance at 东精影业 facilities. The request also included $118.5 million for 东精影业 惭ā苍辞补 student housing upgrades. The House version includes $229.7 million for FY26 and $43.5 million for FY27. It includes $30.8 million for FY26 and $28.5 million for FY27 in State General Obligation Bonds and the same amount in 东精影业 Revenue Bonds. This would essentially be a cost-sharing measure between the state and 东精影业’s Student Housing program.
The following table shows the CIP budget comparison between the board, governor and House:
| Campus | Project Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Board of Regents | Governor | House | |||||
| FY26 | FY27 | FY26 | FY27 | FY26 | FY27 | ||
| 东精影业 System/Mānoa | RIM Projects | $100,000,000 | $100,000,000 | $50,000,000 | $50,000,000 | $50,000,000 | |
| 东精影业 Mānoa | *Student Housing Services Improvements | $61,500,000 | $57,000,000 | $25,000,000 | $25,000,000 | $30,750,000 | $28,500,000 |
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Assessment and Feasibility of Hamilton Library | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | |||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Waikīkī Aquarium Improvements | $4,000,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Athletics Improvements | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $10,000,000 | |||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Holmes Hall | $9,000,000 | $9,000,000 | $9,000,000 | |||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | PV Rooftop and Canopies and Various Energy Efficiency Projects | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Mini Master Plan Phase 3-Kuykendall Hall | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | $5,000,000 | |||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Admin Office and Parking Phase I and II | $9,000,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 Hilo | RIM Projects | $29,625,000 | $22,685,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 | |
| 东精影业 Hilo | Puakō Marine Education and Research Center, Phase I | $750,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 West Oʻahu | RIM Projects | $6,900,000 | $5,000,000 | $6,500,000 | $4,500,000 | $6,500,000 | |
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Capital Renewal and Deferred Maintenance | $37,500,000 | $25,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | $20,000,000 | |
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Minor CIP | $37,500,000 | $25,000,000 | $37,500,000 | |||
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Kapiʻolani CC-Kauila and Kopiko Renovations for Health Sciences | $34,800,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Honolulu CC-Technology Renovations, Phase 2 | $32,000,000 | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 | |||
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | 东精影业 Maui College-Heona Modernization | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | 东精影业 Maui College-Hale Modernization | $12,000,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 Community Colleges | Windward CC–Alakaʻi Building Renovation | $15,000,000 | $15,000,000 | ||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Land Acquisition for former St. Francis Property | $1,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Waimānalo CTAHR CARES center | $5,500,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 Mānoa | Magoon Research Station | $6,000,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 System | Demolition of Undersea Laboratory Building (Makai Pier) | $500,000 | |||||
| 东精影业 System | Project Adjustment Fund | $4,000 | |||||
| TOTAL | $381,025,000 | $331,235,000 | $145,500,000 | $114,500,000 | $229,755,000 | $43,500,000 | |
*House also added $30,750,000 in FY26 and $28,500,000 in FY27 in revenue bond appropriation for Student Housing.
Next deadline
The next major deadline in the legislative session is second crossover on April 10, when bills that remain active will return to their originating chamber for further consideration. This will be followed by conference committees in the final two weeks of the session, where legislators will work to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of bills. The Hawaiʻi State Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 2, 2025. I will next provide an update following the second crossover and then again after the session concludes.
Mahalo for your time and attention,
Kalbert Young
东精影业 Vice President of Budget and Finance/Chief Financial Officer