STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2702

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2211

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 S.B. No. 2211, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to offset costs incurred by the Department in providing emergency food assistance and related services to Hawaii residents during the 2025 federal government shutdown.

More specifically, this measure covers amounts that were redirected from other programs and paid by the Department of Human Services for the Hawaii Emergency Food Relief Program, to the Hawaii Food Bank for the purchase and distribution of food, and to Aloha United Way for 211 call center support.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Human Services, Hawaii Primary Care Association, Aloha United Way, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaii Children's Action Network Speaks!, Catholic Charities Hawaii, AlohaCare, and three individuals.

Your Committee recognizes that the Department of Human Services proactively addressed the food insecurity faced by some Hawaii residents due to the federal government shutdown in 2025. Your Committee also recognizes that policies adopted by the federal government have increased some costs for health insurance on the federal marketplace. Your Committee further finds that, although the Department is well-positioned to address the increased community needs caused by federal actions, the Department requires additional revenue for addressing these increased needs.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation of an unspecified amount to assist Hawaii residents with the cost of health insurance purchased through the federal marketplace;

(2) Changing the appropriation for emergency food assistance from $14,248,126 to an unspecified amount; and

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 S.B. No. 2211, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2211, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair