STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2339

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2615

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2615 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Education to charge not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing a school meal for each school meal.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Education Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi, and Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy.

Your Committee finds that under current statute, the Department of Education is required to set school meal prices at half of the cost of production. In school year 2024-2025, it cost the Department $9.05 to produce one meal, while the price charged per student was $2.50. To comply with current statute, the Department would be forced to double current school meal prices, which would be particularly challenging for working families already facing high living costs. This measure would enable the Department to continue to provide school lunches for students at an affordable price.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2615 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair