Hawaii House Bill HR107

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/25
• Refer: 3/14/25
• Report Pass: 3/27/25
• Passed: 3/27/25

Caption

Urging The Department Of Education To Provide A Detailed Report To The Legislature On The True Cost Of Producing School Meals To Ensure Transparency And Avoid Unnecessary Price Increases.

Impact

This resolution underscores the importance of nutritional access for students across Hawaii, particularly those from low-income families. By demanding a comprehensive cost report for school meals, HR107 aims to shed light on the financial burdens faced by families due to projected meal price increases. Currently, there is no system in place in the Department of Education to provide detailed itemized breakdowns of meal costs, thus HR107 seeks to rectify this gap and promote better fiscal management and accountability within the department.

Summary

House Resolution 107 (HR107) is a legislative measure urging the Department of Education of Hawaii to prepare and submit a detailed report to the legislature. This report should outline the true costs associated with producing school meals, ensuring transparency in the budgeting process. HR107 addresses the proposed increase in school meal prices, advocating for a clearer understanding of these costs to prevent unnecessary price hikes that could negatively impact families and students, particularly those relying on free or reduced-price meals.

Contention

One of the central points of contention surrounding HR107 involves the proposed increases in school meal prices. The Department of Education plans to raise the price of lunches significantly over the next few years, which could hinder access for many families. Opponents may argue about the implications of these increases on food security and suggest that the state should explore ways to subsidize meal costs further rather than raising prices, highlighting the need for effective management of educational funds allocated for meal programs.