SB 789 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SCHOOL CAFETERIA MEAL COSTS.

Summary

Reduces the amount the Department of Education is authorized to charge for school meals to all students enrolled in department schools to no more than one-quarter of the cost of preparing the meals. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Dec 8, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB789_SD1 → SB789_SD2 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from the first Senate District (SD1) to the second (SD2), reflecting new sponsors and revised dates. Most significantly, the effective date of the law was extended to July 1, 2050, but a new condition was added: if the Department of Education fails to meet local farm-to-school meal goals, the law will automatically be repealed on January 1, 2031.

Scope change

The bill's applicability is now contingent on the Department of Education's performance regarding farm-to-school meal goals.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was set to July 1, 2050, replacing the previous unspecified or different date.

REQUIREMENT

A new provision requires the Department of Education to meet local farm-to-school meal goals set in Hawaii Revised Statutes section 302A-405.6.

ENFORCEMENT

If the Department of Education fails to meet the required meal goals, the Act will be automatically repealed on January 1, 2031, and prior statutes will be reinstated.

TECHNICAL

Sponsor names were updated to Jill M. Tsuchitori and Ainoa Naniole, and the legislative session designation changed from S.D. 1 to S.D. 2.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1193) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Garrett, Kapela, Kila, Olds, Sayama, Souza; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Muraoka.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDN, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 197) in amended form (SD 2).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 2). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in WAM were as follows: 12 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-18-25 10:01AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Feb 12, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 342) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 31, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-05-25 3:05PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

5 primary · 2 co-sponsors