STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1371-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 2211

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 2211, S.D. 2, 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:

(1) 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; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of the Governor; Department of Human Services; Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; and AlohaCare.

Your Committee finds that the 2025 federal government shutdown created an immediate threat to the food security of Hawaii residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, leading the Department of Human Services to redirect its existing general fund appropriations from eighteen programs to carry out instructions issued by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition Service. Your Committee further finds that the Department of Human Services now has insufficient funds to meet ongoing program obligations and needs an emergency appropriation to cover the amounts the Department paid in response to the federal government shutdown.

Your Committee also finds that some Hawaii residents are facing higher premiums for health insurance purchased through the federal marketplace due to recent policies implemented by the federal government and need assistance to maintain their health insurance coverage. Your Committee further finds that this measure appropriates general funds to the Department of Human Services to implement this effort.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider appropriation amounts of:

(1) $14,248,126 to offset costs incurred by the Department of Human Services in providing emergency food assistance to Hawaii residents during the federal government shutdown; and

(2) $16,500,000 to assist Hawaii residents with the cost of health insurance available through the federal marketplace.

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 S.B. No. 2211, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2211, S.D. 2, 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