STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3676

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2296

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2296, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to set the price that the Department of Education may charge for school meals at not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meal.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor, Department of Education, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Food Industry Association, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will reduce the required level of cost recovery for school meals provided by the Department of Education. Your Committee believes that this measure will provide the Department with greater flexibility to offer school meals at more affordable prices, thereby ensuring that more public school students will have access to nutritious food during the school day.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making the measure effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2296, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2296, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair