House panel advances HB 2384 to fund NIL program and protect University of Hawaii student athletes

The House Committee on Higher Education voted to advance House Bill 2384 (HD 1) after a campus hearing at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that featured extensive testimony from coaches, student athletes, alumni and university leaders. Chair Garrett’s recommendation to pass the measure with amendments — including a section designating it a law of statewide concern and leaving the appropriation amount to the regular process — was adopted by the committee.

The bill would create a state-supported framework for Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) activities for University of Hawaii student athletes. Matt Elliott, the university’s Athletics Director, said the bill establishes “education, agent protections and reporting requirements” and asked the legislature to provide $5,000,000 to start an NIL program that helps retain local athletes and stabilize recruiting. “With the state's investment of $5,000,000 for NIL, we can build the program, at least in this first year, in a viable way,” Elliott said.

Coaches and student athletes described how the university’s culture and community ties influence recruiting and retention. Laura Beeman, head coach of the Wahine basketball team, testified that the program provides opportunities and a sense of responsibility to represent Hawaii. Player Jovi (point guard, Wahine basketball) said HB 2384 would offer student athletes “opportunities to grow and learn about responsibility, teamwork, accountability, commitment, and most importantly, giving back to the community that gave me so much.” Multiple players and coaches said NIL-related offers elsewhere can make teams fragile and that a local program with funding and education would help keep athletes in Hawaii.

Mike Yosua, a former UH athlete who negotiates NIL deals, supported the bill and urged better education for student athletes about taxes and representative selection. He warned of “unscrupulous representatives” and noted athletes often do not understand tax liabilities after receiving large payments.

During questioning, members asked Elliott how peer institutions manage NIL. Elliott replied that every Mountain West school has committed a budget for NIL and that NIL is now part of the official recruiting and transfer conversation. Elliott also said the university is pursuing private fundraising of roughly $3,000,000 for NIL this year and is beyond the halfway point of that goal, and that local media-rights negotiations could supplement funding.

The Deputy Attorney General, appearing by video, requested that the committee indicate the bill is a law of statewide concern; the chair said that addition would be made. Elliott told members the university favors aggregated public disclosures of NIL spending rather than publishing individual student contract values, citing student privacy laws and competitive concerns.

On procedural details, the chair noted technical non-substantive edits and a placeholder defective date entered in the committee record (“07/01/3000”) to allow continued deliberation; the appropriation line was left blank to be determined later. The committee vote adopted the chair’s recommendation: Chair Garrett and Vice Chair Amato voted aye; Representatives Evelyn, Keelah, Lechica, Muruoka and Souza voted aye; Representatives Coppella, Olds and Woodson were excused.

The committee passed HB 2384 out of committee as HD 1. The record lists the changes adopted in committee; the next legislative steps and final appropriations were not specified during the hearing.