STAND. COM. REP. NO. 679

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1300

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 1300, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Education to subsidize meals for students whose families are classified as asset-limited, income‑constrained, employed (ALICE) households.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, City and County of Honolulu Office of Economic Revitalization, County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development, Climate Protectors Hawaii, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii Appleseed, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Hunger Action Network, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii State Teachers Association, Pride at Work‑Hawaii, The Purple Maia Foundation, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that providing access to healthy school meals is important for student nutrition and helps students remain focused in school. The Department of Education currently provides free and reduced-price lunches for qualified students through federal reimbursements. However, some families classified as asset‑limited, income-constrained, employed (ALICE) may not qualify for the federal reimbursement despite having an economic need and struggling to afford meals for their children. Accordingly, this measure provides funding and support to the Department of Education to subsidize school meals for these students.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1300, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair