STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1637
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.R. No. 107
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.R. No. 107 entitled:
"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE A DETAILED REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE ON THE TRUE COST OF PRODUCING SCHOOL MEALS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND AVOID UNNECESSARY PRICE INCREASES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Healthy Eating, Active Living; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; and six individuals.
Your Committee finds that the Department of Education cites the
current cost of producing a student lunch at $9.00. Your Committee further finds that the
Department of Education has proposed an increase in school meal prices, which
would lead to an increase in the price of student lunch from $2.50 to $4.75 for
grades kindergarten through eight and from $2.75 to $5.00 for grades nine
through twelve by the 2028-2029 school year.
Your
Committee believes that an increase in prices for school meals will negatively
impact Hawaii's working families and students that receive free or
reduced-price meals and finds it essential that proper reporting processes are
in place to provide transparency as to the costs of producing school meals.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 107 and recommends its adoption.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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