HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	1779
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to school meals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii's working families face significant economic challenges, including the rising cost of living, inflation, and limited affordable options for basic needs. Access to nutritious meals is essential for the overall well-being of Hawaii's people. Further, for students, healthy meals are critical to academic success. However, for some students, school meals may be their only consistent source of food.

The legislature further finds that research shows students experiencing food insecurity face a higher risk of stress, depression, and chronic disease. Additionally, studies have found that free school meal programs lead to improved student performance. When universal free school meals have been implemented elsewhere, student test scores rose the equivalent of six additional weeks of school, making the program one of the most cost effective and sustainable academic interventions that the State can establish.

The legislature additionally finds that Act 139, Session Laws of Hawaii 2025, expands free school meal coverage to students who currently qualify for reduced-price lunch beginning with the 2025-2026 school year and expands coverage to students whose family income is not more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Despite these gains, however, thousands of students across the islands are still going hungry because of a lack of resources to ensure consistent food security for themselves and their families.

Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to expand fee school meal coverage to all public school students beginning in the 2029-2030 school year.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-404, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§302A-404 School meals. (a) School meals shall be made available under the school meals program in every school where the students are required to eat meals at school.

(b) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, students who qualify for reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Program shall receive free school meals.

(c) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, free school meals shall be provided to every student enrolled in a department school whose family income is [not] no more than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level, regardless of a student's eligibility for participation in the federal school meals program.

(d) Beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, free school meals shall be provided to every student enrolled in a department school, regardless of a student's eligibility for participation in a federal school meals program.

[(d)] (e) No student shall be denied a meal solely for failure to pay.

[(e)] (f) The department may adopt rules or policies governing the collection of funds for student meal accounts with a negative fund balance; provided that no rule or policy shall prohibit feeding a student or otherwise conflict with subsection [(d).] (e).

[(f)] (g) It is the intent of this section not to jeopardize the receipt of any federal aid and, only to the extent necessary to effectuate this intent, the governor may modify strict provisions of this section, but shall promptly report any modification with the governor's reasons therefore to the next succeeding session of the legislature for review."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

DOE; Public Education; School Meals; Free

Description:

Expands free school meal coverage, beginning with the 2029-2030 school year, to all Department of Education students regardless of whether the student participates in a federal school meals program.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.