STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2552

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3245

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.B. No. 3245 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the Department of Human Services to:

(1) Adjust the minimum certification periods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits households;

(2) Participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project; and

(2) Report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; AARP Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Aloha United Way; Hawaii Academy of Family Physicians; AlohaCare; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network, and ten individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services.

Your Committee finds that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical lifeline for more than 160,000 State residents. Without it, many of these individuals would not have any money to pay for food at all. Your Committee further finds that federal rules allow states to extend the SNAP certification period for households with seniors or people with disabilities. However, the State currently requires recertification every twelve months for most households. This measure simplifies SNAP enrollment and reduces administrative burdens to increase participation among eligible households.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of January 30, 2050, to encourage further discussion;

(2) Inserting an implementation date of July 1, 2028; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3245, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3245, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair