STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 2097
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: S.C.R. No. 134
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 S.C.R. No. 134 entitled:
"SENATE CONCURRENT 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 the Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.
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 is proposing to increase 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 the prices for school meals will negatively impact the State's working families and students who 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 S.C.R. No. 134 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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