Bill > HB696

This bill aims to improve the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Hawaii by making several key changes to benefit low-income households. The bill requires the Department of Human Services to set minimum certification periods for SNAP benefits to 12 months for most households and 24 months for households with members 60 years or older. It also mandates participation in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, which includes establishing 36-month recertification periods for households with seniors or people with disabilities and waiving recertification interviews where federally permitted. The legislation provides funding to strengthen SNAP access by authorizing pay increases for SNAP-related positions, establishing new positions to improve program access in economically disadvantaged communities, and supporting initiatives to increase participation rates. Additionally, the Department of Human Services must submit reports to the legislature in 2026 and 2027 detailing SNAP implementation, administrative costs, and participation rates. The bill is motivated by findings that SNAP is crucial for supporting over 130,000 individuals in Hawaii, bringing $630 million into the state's economy annually, and that removing certain income limit criteria could provide an additional $45 million in benefits to struggling families. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=696&year=2026