The day after the governor released his six picks to serve on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, state lawmakers advanced a bill that could overhaul the controversial nomination process.

Senate Bill 2005, SD 2, cleared the House Committee on Higher Education unamended with a 9-1 vote Tuesday afternoon.

The legislation proposes a constitutional amendment to eliminate the 6-year-old candidate advisory council that produced the list of names from which Abercrombie made his selections.

The bill heads to the Judiciary committee next.

Two other bills to alter the UH Board of Regents nomination process also cleared the Committee on Higher Education Tuesday. Senate Bill 2546, which would change the form and function of the council, passed with amendments. Senate Bill 2620, which would abolish the council, was approved unamended.