Bill > HB1561

This bill, effective July 1, 3000, mandates that starting with the 2026-2027 school year, public charter schools participating in the National School Lunch Program must offer free school meals, defined as breakfast and lunch prepared and served by the school or an approved off-site vendor, to all enrolled students whose family income does not exceed three hundred percent of the federal poverty level, regardless of their individual eligibility for federal meal programs. Importantly, no student will be denied a meal due to an inability to pay, and while the state public charter school commission may establish policies for managing negative meal account balances, these policies cannot prevent a student from receiving a meal. The bill also includes an appropriation for fiscal year 2026-2027 to cover meal subsidies for these students and states the intent to avoid jeopardizing federal aid, allowing the governor to modify provisions if necessary to achieve this goal, provided such modifications are reported to the legislature.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1561&year=2026