CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 111

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 960

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 960, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to enhance access to, and participation in, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, including establishing additional positions.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supports over one hundred thirty thousand individuals in the State, helping economically vulnerable households meet their basic nutritional needs without sacrificing their financial security. Your Committee on Conference further finds that the Department of Human Services lacks staffing needed to support the eligibility certification process through document processing, application registration, and other administrative functions integral to operations. This measure provides additional resources to strengthen the SNAP program in the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,100,000 for each year of the fiscal biennium to strengthen access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2025; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 960, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 960, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ LISA MARTEN Co-Chair	____________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA Chair
____________________________ DEE MORIKAWA Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Co-Chair