STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1639

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.R. No. 140

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 Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.R. No. 140 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO APPLY FOR AND IMPLEMENT THE ELDERLY SIMPLIFIED APPLICATION PROJECT IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Department of Human Services to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Healthy Eating, Active Living Coalition; Hawai‘i Hunger Action Network; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that many low-income households in Hawaii struggle to afford food due to the State's high cost of living, making food assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) critical to ensuring nutritional security. Despite SNAP's role in supporting over one hundred thirty thousand residents and contributing significantly to the local economy, barriers to enrollment and participation persist, particularly for older adults. This measure addresses this issue by requesting the Department of Human Services to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project, which streamlines the SNAP application process, waives certain requirements, and extends certification periods to improve accessibility for seniors.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Human Services & Homelessness that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 140, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.R. No. 140, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Human Services & Homelessness,

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair