HB 209 Summary

• Establishes the Hawaii State Fellows Program within the Department of Human Resources Development to provide full-time, paid fellowship positions in various state agencies for 10-11 months to attract and retain government workers.

• Requires fellows to complete a bachelor's degree by September 1 of the fellowship year, maintain a cumulative 2.5 or higher GPA, be at least 20 years old, and be authorized to work in the United States (excludes applicants requiring F-1, J-1, or E-Verify work visas).

• Includes career development training, workshops, mentorship programs, and evaluation mechanisms to assess program effectiveness.

• Gives preference to applicants with pre-existing ties to Hawaii or demonstrated commitment to long-term leadership in the State.

• Requires the Department of Human Resources Development to submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the 2026 regular session on program participation, accomplishments, and expenditures; appropriates funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.