Bill > HB1779

This bill expands free school meal coverage to all public school students, including those in public charter schools, starting with the 2029-2030 school year, meaning that all students will be eligible for free breakfast and lunch regardless of their family's income or participation in federal programs like the National School Lunch Program. The bill also clarifies that no student should be denied a meal due to an inability to pay and allows for the adoption of rules regarding negative meal account balances, as long as they don't prevent a student from being fed. This expansion builds upon previous legislation that already increased free meal eligibility for students qualifying for reduced-price meals and those with family incomes up to three hundred percent of the federal poverty level. The intention is to ensure consistent food security for all students, recognizing the link between nutrition and academic success, and to avoid jeopardizing federal funding by allowing the governor to make necessary modifications to the law while reporting them to the legislature.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1779&year=2026