HB1075 • 2026

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

Education Taxes

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: NAKAMURA (Introduced by request of another party)
Last action: 2025-12-08
Official status: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details about annual price adjustments or provisions for offering lower rates or free meals based on economic need, which were included in the candidate explanation.

Making School Meals More Affordable

This bill reduces the cost that Hawaii's Department of Education can charge students for school meals to no more than one-quarter of the meal preparation costs.

What This Bill Does

Changes the law so schools can only charge up to one-quarter of the cost to make a meal.

Who It Names or Affects

Students enrolled in Hawaii public schools
Families paying for school meals

Terms To Know

Department of Education (DOE): The government agency responsible for managing and operating the state's public education system.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how schools will fund the difference between one-quarter of meal preparation costs and the full cost.
It is unclear if all students will benefit equally from reduced meal prices or if some may still face financial barriers to participating in school meals.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment reduces the amount schools can charge for meals to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing them, making school meals more affordable.

Changes the revenue requirement from the sale of school meals from at least half the preparation cost to a maximum of one-quarter of that cost.

The amendment specifies an effective date of July 1, 3000, which seems unrealistic and likely contains an error.
It is unclear how this change will be implemented or what impact it might have on school budgets.

Bill History

2025-12-08 D
Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
2025-02-13 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Kitagawa, Ward excused (3).
2025-02-13 H
Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 566) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2025-02-11 H
The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 11 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2025-02-07 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by EDN on Tuesday, 02-11-25 2:01PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2025-01-23 H
Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 3
2025-01-23 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2025-01-21 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.
DOE; School Meals; Cost
Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB1075

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1075

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
�
The
legislature finds that Hawaii's working families face significant economic
challenges, including the rising cost of living, inflationary pressures, and
limited affordable options for basic needs.
�
Access to nutritious meals is essential for
students' academic success and overall well-being.
�
However, the increasing cost of school meals
may place an undue burden on families, leading to reduced student participation
in school meal programs.

����
The legislature further finds that
encouraging more students to participate in school meal programs is crucial for
promoting equity, ensuring students have access to healthy food, and fostering
an environment conducive to learning.
�
By
reducing the financial burden on families, the State can help mitigate the
impacts of economic hardship and support the health and academic achievement of
Hawaii's keiki.

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The purpose of this Act is to amend section
302A-405(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, to reduce the minimum revenue requirement
from the sale of school meals from one-half to one-quarter of the cost of
preparing the meals, thereby making school meals more affordable for families
and increasing student participation in school meal programs.

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SECTION 2.
�

Section 302A-405(a), Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as
follows:

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"(a)
�
The price for school meals shall be set by the
department to ensure that moneys received from the sale of the meals shall be
not less than [
one-half
]
one-quarter
of the cost of preparing the
meals.
�
The prices for school meals may
be adjusted annually based on the previous year's costs rounded to the nearest
five cents; provided that the department by rule shall provide a lower rate or
free meals to children based on their economic need."

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SECTION 3.
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Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
�
New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 4.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

BY REQUEST

Report Title:

DOE; School Meals

Description:

A
mends the law to reduce the amount the Department
of Education is required to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in
department schools.

The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.