A group of 25 Hawaii House lawmakers, nearly half of the 51-member chamber, introduced a bill Thursday to provide free school meals to all public school students, regardless of family income. House Bill 1779 passed its first of three required readings.
The proposed legislation would expand on a 2023 law, Senate Bill 1300, now Act 139, which offers free meals to students in households earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level.
Rep. Scot Matayoshi (D, Kaneohe-Maunawili), who previously taught seventh-grade science at Nanakuli High & Intermediate School, co-sponsored HB 1779. He cited personal experience with student hunger in classrooms as a motivation for the measure.
“For my kids, sadly, it was the only food they got during the day so I know how important it is for them to have school meals,” Matayoshi said.
Support for the bill spans both parties, including Republican Reps. Julie Reyes Oda (R, Ewa Beach-Iroquois Point) and Kanani Souza (R, Kapolei-Makakilo).
Matayoshi acknowledged concerns from some constituents about taxpayer support for universal meals. He responded that child hunger can affect classroom focus for all students.
If enacted, the bill would require the state Department of Education to provide free meals to every student in Hawaii’s public schools. The department currently serves about 150,000 students, excluding charter schools.
In written testimony supporting expanded meal programs, state Superintendent Keith T. Hayashi said, “Ensuring that students have access to healthy school breakfasts and lunches is critical to their ability to focus in the classroom and achieve academic success.”
As of Dec. 30, more than 10,400 students qualified for reduced-price meals, a 1.5% increase over the previous year, according to the Department of Education. The department also reported serving 21,000 more breakfasts and 21,000 more lunches than the year before.
Hayashi requested $2.8 million to implement Act 139’s expanded eligibility in the 2026–2027 school year. He also noted rising food costs and efforts to source more locally grown produce may increase expenses.
Another measure introduced by Matayoshi last year, House Bill 424, aimed to reduce the meal prices the Department of Education charges. That bill stalled but automatically carried over into the current legislative session.
In written testimony supporting HB 424 last year, the Hawai’i Youth Services Network said many Hawaii families fall into the ALICE category — asset-limited, income-constrained, employed — and are ineligible for reduced-price meals despite financial hardship. The group cited 2023 data showing one in ten Hawaii households had gone without food for an entire day during at least some months.
Osa Tui Jr., president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, also testified on HB 424, stating that universal school meals would better address hunger and reduce stigma.
“Limiting free meals to students who qualify based on specific guidelines creates unnecessary barriers,” Tui wrote. “A universal approach ensures that all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have access to the nutrition they need to focus on learning.”