STAND. COM. REP. NO. 63-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1518

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Human Services & Homelessness, to which was referred H.B. No. 1518 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services, upon obtaining a federal waiver, to establish a pre-release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program application process for inmates nearing release.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaiʻi; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Pele Lani Farm LLC; Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition; Community Alliance on Prisons; Hina Mauka; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Healthy Living, Active Living Coalition; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Aloha United Way; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaii Food Industry Association; AlohaCare; Big Island Substance Abuse Council; American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi; Drug Policy Forum of Hawaiʻi; Kapalama Neighborhood Security Watch; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that food security is essential in helping formerly incarcerated individuals strengthen their financial stability. Your Committee further finds that reentry research consistently finds that access to basic necessities like food and housing reduces the likelihood of recidivism. Ensuring timely access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for individuals leaving correctional facilities provides a critical stabilizing resource that supports lawful reintegration and reduces the pressure to return to survival-based criminal activity.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing language that would have allowed certain individuals to apply for both Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits, to address a single-subject title concern raised by the Department of the Attorney General in testimony; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee respectfully requests that as this measure moves through the legislative process, consideration be given to a proposed start date of January 1, 2028, to give sufficient time to the Department of Human Services for implementation.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1518, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1518, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Public Safety.

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

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair