SB2211 • 2026

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Budget

Active

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

Sponsor: CHANG, FEVELLA, GABBARD, MCKELVEY, MORIWAKI, RHOADS, SAN BUENAVENTURA, Kanuha, Richards
Last action: 2026-03-24
Official status: Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

What This Bill Does

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
DHS; Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program; Federal Government Shutdown; Health Insurance; Federal Marketplace; Emergency Appropriation ($) Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown.
Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace.
Effective 7/1/3000.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

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

HD1

Hawaii published version HD1

Plain English: SB2211 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2211 HD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2211 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII H.D.

SD1

Hawaii published version SD1

Plain English: SB2211 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2211 SD1 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2211 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
1 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES .

SD2

Hawaii published version SD2

Plain English: SB2211 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.

SB2211 SD2 THE SENATE S.B.
NO.
2211 THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026 S.D.
2 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES .

Bill History

2026-03-24 H
Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Garrett, Quinlan excused (2).
2026-03-24 H
Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1371-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
2026-03-19 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.
2026-03-17 H
Bill scheduled to be heard by HSH on Thursday, 03-19-26 9:30AM in House conference room 329 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
2026-03-10 H
Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 15
2026-03-05 H
Pass First Reading
2026-02-25 H
Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 16) in amended form (SD 2).
2026-02-25 S
Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 24; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 1 (Senator(s) Kidani). Transmitted to House.
2026-02-23 S
48 Hrs. Notice 02-25-26.
2026-02-23 S
Reported from WAM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2702) with recommendation of passage on Third Reading, as amended (SD 2).
2026-02-19 S
The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 11 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 2 Excused: Senator(s) Kidani, Richards.
2026-02-13 S
The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-19-26 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.
2026-02-13 S
Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
2026-02-13 S
Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2249) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
2026-02-09 H
Received from Governor re: emergency appropriation (Gov. Msg. No. 3).
2026-01-30 S
The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, McKelvey, Kanuha, Keohokalole; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Fevella.
2026-01-27 S
The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-30-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.
2026-01-26 S
Referred to HHS, WAM.
2026-01-21 S
Introduced and passed First Reading.
2026-01-14 S
Pending Introduction.

Official Summary Text

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.
DHS; Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program; Federal Government Shutdown; Health Insurance; Federal Marketplace; Emergency Appropriation ($)
Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown. Appropriates funds to the Department of Human Services to help Hawaii residents obtain insurance available through the federal marketplace. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB2211

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2211

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

making
an emergency appropriation to the department of human services
.

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

����
SECTION 1.
�
This Act is
recommended by the governor for immediate passage in accordance with section 9
of article VII of the Hawaii State Constitution.

����
SECTION 2.
�

The legislature finds that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
(SNAP) provides critical support to millions of individuals and families across
the United States, helping to ensure access to adequate food and nutrition for
households experiencing economic hardship.
�

The legislature further finds that in the State, tens of thousands of
households participate in SNAP and depend on these benefits to maintain food
security and support healthy development for children and other vulnerable
family members.

����
The legislature recognizes that a recent
federal government shutdown has resulted in disruptions to the timely
distribution of SNAP benefits, threatening the food security of households who
rely on these payments for essential nutrition.
�
These delays and lapses in benefits have created
immediate hardship, particularly for low-income families, seniors, and
individuals with disabilities.
�
The
legislature also finds that interruptions in SNAP benefits may have long-term
consequences that remain even after the government is no longer shut down,
including increased reliance on emergency food services, elevated health risks,
and greater economic instability for affected families.

����
Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to make
an emergency appropriation to the department of human services to provide
emergency assistance to households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program and to expand food delivery services through its contracted
community-based providers, including to supplement or expand the Hawaii
Emergency Food Assistance Program.
�

Without an emergency appropriation, the department of human services
will be unduly impeded in mitigating the negative impacts of the federal lapse
of SNAP benefits for the State's SNAP benefit recipient households.

����
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 2025-2026 to provide emergency
assistance to households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program and to expand food delivery services through its contracted
community-based providers, including to supplement or expand the Hawaii
Emergency Food Assistance Program.

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

����
SECTION 4.
�

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DHS;
Emergency Appropriation

Description:

Makes an
emergency appropriation to the Department of Human Services
to provide
emergency assistance to households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition
Assistance Program and to expand food delivery services through its contracted
community-based providers, including to supplement or expand the Hawaii
Emergency Food Assistance Program.

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