STAND. COM. REP. NO. 953-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 1779

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1779, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to expand free school meal coverage beginning with the 2029-2030 school year to all public school students, including public charter school students, regardless of eligibility to participate in a federal school meals program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; State Public Charter School Commission; Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Healthy Eating + Active Living Coalition; Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi Education Caucus; Early Childhood Action Strategy; American Heart Association; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Parents and Children Together; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Aloha United Way; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance; Hawaiʻi Climate Future Forum; Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1779, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair