STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1022

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 424

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 424, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch to students enrolled in a Department of Education school who meet certain requirements, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year;

(2) Reduce the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one‑quarter of the cost of preparing the meals; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the total plate costs associated with providing the free school breakfasts and lunches.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network; EPD Corp.; Lou's Quality Home Health Care Services, LLC; Malama Kauaʻi; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; AlohaCare; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; and three individuals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to an unspecified portion of the cost of preparing the meals; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 424, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 424, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair