This amendment lowers the maximum price schools can charge students by requiring that meal sales cover no more than one-quarter of the cost to prepare them, instead of the current requirement of at least half.
Hawaii2026Enacted
HB2296
Lowering School Meal Prices
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 11:30 PM
In one sentence
This law changes the rule so schools must charge at least one-quarter, instead of one-half, of the cost to prepare each meal.
What it does
- Changes the minimum amount that school meals must cover from half the preparation cost to one-quarter of the cost.
- Allows the Department of Education to adjust meal prices every year based on costs from the previous year.
- Requires schools to offer lower rates or free meals for children who have economic needs.
Who it affects
- The Hawaii Department of Education
- Department schools in the state system
- Families and students buying school lunches
Limits and unknowns
- The law does not state a specific dollar amount for meals because prices depend on actual costs.
- This change applies to department schools, but it is unclear if private or charter schools are included in this rule.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Cost of preparing a meal
- The total amount it costs to buy food, cook the meal, and serve it.
- Department schools
- Public schools run by the Department of Education.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS. DOE; School Cafeteria Meals; Costs Requires the Department of Education to charge not less than one-quarter of the cost of preparing a school meal for each school meal. (SD2)
Official activity
Bill history
- Act 236, on 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).H
- Act 236, 07/13/2026 (Gov. Msg. No. 1338).S
- Received notice of House agreement and passage on Final Reading (Hse. Com. No. 824).S
- Transmitted to Governor.H
- Passed Final Reading as amended in SD 2 with Representative(s) Alcos, Garcia, Gedeon voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Kapela excused (1).H
- House agrees to Senate amendment(s).H
- Received notice of House reconsideration of action in disagreeing to the amendments proposed by the Senate (Hse. Com. No. 822).S
- Reconsideration of action taken on 04-16-26.H
- Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 780).S
- House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).H
- Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 676) in amended form (SD 2).H
- Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.S
- 48 Hrs. Notice 04-14-26.S
- Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3676) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).S
- The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Richards, Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Lee, C..S
- The committee(s) on WAM deferred the measure until 04-06-26 10:31AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.S
- Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.S
- The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 04-01-26 10:03AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.S
- Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3391) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.S
- The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Fukunaga.S
Changes
Amendments
3 stored
This amendment changes the law so that schools must charge at least one-quarter of a meal's cost instead of half, while also updating how officials report special price exceptions to lawmakers.
This amendment changes the law so that schools must charge at least one-quarter of a meal's cost instead of half, while also updating how officials report special price adjustments to lawmakers.