STAND. COM. REP. NO. 569

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1500

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1500 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the authority of the Department of Education to set the price for school meals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Health Eating, Active Living Coalition; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that repealing the Department of Education's authority to set the price for school meals will expand access to nutritious meals, helping students receive the nourishment they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Restoring the statutory provisions requiring the Department of Education, by rule, to provide a lower rate or free meals to children based on their economic need;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1500, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1500, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair