STAND. COM. REP. NO. 523-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2310

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. 2310 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to provide an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Human Services; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii Food Industry Association; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the 2025 federal government shutdown created an immediate threat to the food security of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households and other residents whose income and federal benefits were disrupted. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Human Services redirected its existing general fund appropriations from multiple program IDs and established the Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program. Redirected funds were also used to contract with the Hawaii Foodbank, with Aloha United Way, and for the Department's information technology services to facilitate benefit distribution.

Your Committee further finds that as a result of these efforts, the Department has insufficient funds to meet ongoing program obligations. Certain balances must be restored so that the Department can meet its fiscal year 2025-2026 obligations and avoid incurring penalties and interest. This measure restores those funds to ensure the Department can continue its essential services without interruption.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee requests that, given the immediacy of the appropriation request, an effective upon approval date be considered for this measure as it moves through the legislative process.

Your Committee further requests that your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an emergency appropriation amount of $14,428,126.

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. 2310, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2310, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

LISA MARTEN, Chair