HB2233 • 2026

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM-EDUCATION PROGRAM.

Agriculture Budget Education

Active

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

Sponsor: IWAMOTO, AMATO, BELATTI, COCHRAN, GRANDINETTI, HUSSEY, MARTEN, PERRUSO, REYES ODA, SOUZA
Last action: 2026-03-10
Official status: Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details about how the funds will be allocated or if there are restrictions on their use beyond fiscal year 2026-2027.

Funding for SNAP-Ed in Hawaii

This bill appropriates funds from state revenues to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the Department of Health to continue their implementation of the Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) program.

What This Bill Does

Appropriates money from state funds for the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience to keep running SNAP-Ed in fiscal year 2026-2027.
Appropriates money from state funds for the Department of Health to keep running SNAP-Ed in fiscal year 2026-2027.

Who It Names or Affects

The University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
The Department of Health

Terms To Know

SNAP-Ed: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education, a program that teaches people how to eat healthy on a budget.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact amount of money being appropriated.
It is unclear if this funding will continue beyond fiscal year 2026-2027.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: This amendment allocates funds from the state's general revenues to continue supporting the Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) program managed by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the Department of Health.

Appropriates money for fiscal year 2026-2027 from state general revenues to support the SNAP-Ed program run by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.
Appropriates money for fiscal year 2026-2027 from state general revenues to support the SNAP-Ed program run by the Department of Health.

The exact amount of funds appropriated is not specified in the amendment text.
The effective date listed (July 1, 3000) seems incorrect and likely contains an error.

Bill History

2026-03-10 S
Referred to EDU/HHS, WAM.
2026-03-10 S
Passed First Reading.
2026-03-10 S
Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 196).
2026-03-06 H
Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.
2026-03-06 H
Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 936-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
2026-03-04 H
The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-03-02 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 03-04-26 10:00AM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-20 H
Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1).
2026-02-20 H
Reported from HED (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 612-26), recommending referral to FIN.
2026-02-18 H
The committee on HED recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Garrett, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Kila, La Chica, Olds, Woodson, Muraoka, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-13 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HED on Wednesday, 02-18-26 2:00PM in House conference room 309 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-02-12 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on HED with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and none excused (0).
2026-02-12 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 218-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to HED.
2026-02-10 H
The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Hartsfield, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
2026-02-05 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Tuesday, 02-10-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-01-30 H
Referred to HSH, HED, FIN, referral sheet 5
2026-01-28 H
Introduced and Pass First Reading.
2026-01-26 H
Pending introduction.

Official Summary Text

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM-EDUCATION PROGRAM.
University of Hawaii; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Department of Health; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education Program; Appropriation ($)
Appropriates funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience and the Department of Health to continue their implementation of the Hawaii Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education Program. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB2233

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

2233

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to the supplemental nutrition assistance program-education program
.

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

����
SECTION
1.
�
The legislature finds that the federal
supplemental nutrition assistance program�education (SNAP-Ed) program, active
from 1992 until its discontinuation in 2025, was a critical, evidence-based
program that directly improved the health and well-being of low-income
families.
�
SNAP-Ed provided essential
nutrition education, promoted healthy eating, improved cooking and budgeting
skills, and expanded access to nutritious foods.

����
The
legislature further finds that SNAP-Ed program outcomes demonstrate positive
impact, with ninety-one per cent of participants improving their diets,
eighty-three per cent of participants gaining skills in meal planning and
budgeting, and forty per cent reporting increased food affordability or
sufficient food for their families.
�
The
SNAP-Ed program reduced food insecurity and risks of diet-related disease,
delivering tangible benefits across communities.

����
The
legislature additionally finds that the SNAP-Ed program also strengthened local
food systems, supported schools and community organizations.
�
Nutrition education also is a cost-effective
investment that prevents illness, reduces long-term health spending, and
strengthens families and communities.

����
The
legislature notes that at the state level, the university of Hawaii college of tropical
agriculture and human resilience and the department of health manage SNAP-Ed
programs with a combined 1,570,000,000 budget for 2025.
�
However, the federal SNAP-Ed program has been
eliminated from the federal budget, dismantling a proven, prevention-focused
program at a time of rising food costs and escalating public health
expenditures and leaving the future of the program at risk in the State and nationally.

����
The
purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to the university of Hawaii college
of tropical agriculture and human resilience and the department of health to
continue funding for the Hawaii supplemental nutrition assistance
program�education program.

����
SECTION
2.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the university of
Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resilience to continue
implementation of the Hawaii supplemental nutrition assistance
program�education program.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the university of Hawaii for the purposes of
this Act.

����
SECTION
3.
�
There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of
$ or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the department of
health to continue implementation of the Hawaii supplemental nutrition
assistance program�education program.

����
The sum
appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of
this Act.

����
SECTION 4.
�
This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

University
of Hawaii; College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Department of
Health;
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program�Education Program;
Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates
funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience
and the Department of Health to continue their implementation of the Hawaii
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program�Education Program.

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