HB 542 Summary

• Expands the Hawaii promise program to include undergraduate students at University of Hawaii four-year campuses (Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu), in addition to existing community college coverage

• Four-year campus students must be Hawaii residents, submit FAFSA annually, enroll in classified degree programs with 12+ credits per semester, maintain satisfactory academic progress, and demonstrate unmet direct cost needs to qualify

• Scholarships are awarded based on available funding and greatest need, with awards capped at the student's unmet direct cost need after accounting for Pell grants and other scholarships

• Appropriates unspecified funds from general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to implement the expanded program

• Effective date is July 1, 3000