REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE FREE SCHOOL MEALS TO EVERY STUDENT ENROLLED IN A DEPARTMENT SCHOOL, REGARDLESS OF A STUDENT'S ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN A FEDERAL SCHOOL MEALS PROGRAM, BEGINNING WITH THE 2029-2030 SCHOOL YEAR.

This Senate Concurrent Resolution asks the Hawaii Department of Education to provide free school meals to all enrolled students, regardless of their family's income or eligibility for federal meal programs, starting in the 2029-2030 school year. The bill does not authorize funding or mandate implementation but serves as a formal request to the state education agency to consider universal free meals as a policy option. It builds on existing state legislation that has already expanded free meal eligibility to certain income groups in recent years. The resolution aims to address food insecurity among students by ensuring consistent access to nutritious meals across all schools in the state.