STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2830

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3245, S.D. 1, 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 facilitate the administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Specifically, the measure requires the Department of Human Services to:

(1) Set certain minimum certification periods for certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits households; and

(2) Participate in, and submit legislative reports regarding, the Elderly Simplified Application Project of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to simplify eligibility determinations for eligible households.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; AARP Hawaii; Aloha United Way; AlohaCare; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; Hawaii Public Health Institute; Agriculture Stewardship Hawaii; Hawaii Hunger Action Network; and seven individuals.

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

Your Committee finds that more than one hundred sixty thousand state residents rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for food. Your Committee also finds that federal regulations authorize states to extend the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program certification period for households that include seniors or persons with disabilities. Accordingly, your Committee finds that this measure will enable the Department of Human Services to apply the authorization offered in federal regulations to simplify enrollment in the program and reduce undue administrative burdens for disable users.

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. 3245, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair