Free student meals back on the table at the Legislature

HB1779 wouldn’t take effect until the 2029-2030 school year, which some say is enough time for the DOE to budget for universal free school meals.

“We just really want to emphasize that this bill would not be an immediate budget hit to the state,” said Genevieve Mumma of Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network. “This upholds a five-year plan that Gov. Green has … to achieve free school meals by 2030. So, there’s ample time to plan and phase in the funding that's needed by school year 2029-2030.”

The measure is set to cross over to the Senate, where universal free school meal proposals have died in recent years.