HB 328: RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that setting a target goal of thirty per cent of food served in public schools to consist of locally sourced products, as established pursuant to Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, is of great benefit for the health of Hawaii's students.

     The legislature further finds that the Aina Pono program has been considered a success, particularly in the Mililani and Kohala school districts, with evidence showing increased student meal participation, reduced food waste, cost savings, and a significant rise in locally sourced food served in school cafeterias.  The program is seen as a positive step toward educating students about fresh, local food options while supporting local farmers.

     The legislature further finds that diversifying school meal offerings to include more fresh and minimally processed options can enhance student health outcomes and provide an opportunity to support local agriculture.

     The legislature additionally finds that a plant-based diet has been shown to reduce the chance of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers, among other things.  Offering a variety of diets, including plant-based meals, can also greatly increase demand for local greens and promote local farming jobs and agriculture.  Schools around the United States have increased their offering of plant-based school lunches with New York City offering daily plant-based meal options and California's twenty-five largest school districts providing vegan options on more than half of middle and high school menus.  Providing plant-based meals to students can promote not only a healthy lifestyle for the State's youth but encourage students to make environmentally conscious personal decisions.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the department of education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030; and

     (2)  Authorize the department of education to establish a plant-based meal program to provide a plant-based meal as an option under the school meals program.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Farm to school meals; complex areas; school plans.  (a)  The department shall authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships with nonprofit organizations or private entities in order for the department to reach the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the public schools to consist of locally sourced products by 2030, pursuant to section 302A-405.6.

     (b)  The department shall collaborate with the complex areas or individual public schools and the farm to school providers to ensure that the department meets the local farm to school meal goal.

     (c)  Notwithstanding section 102-2, each public school, subject to approval of the superintendent, may accept donations or contributions from individuals, nonprofit organizations, or private entities to support the farm to school meal program, including support through the procurement of locally grown food items, the establishment of sustainable school meal practices, and use of locally grown food items in school cafeterias under the school food services branch.

     (d)  The department shall ensure that each individual public school participating in its own farm to school program maintain data and metrics to track their progress for the department to meet the local farm to school meal goal."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the department of education may establish a plant-based meal program to provide a plant-based meal as an option under the school meals program.

     (b)  As part of the program, the department of education may establish a day within the school week to provide plant-based options for school meals.

     (c)  If the department establishes a plant-based meal program pursuant to subsection (a), the department shall:

     (1)  Submit an interim report on the progress of the plant-based meal program to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027; and

     (2)  Submit a final report on the plant-based meal program, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.

     (d)  The plant-based meal program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2028.

     (e)  For the purposes of this section, "plant-based meal" means a meal consisting of all minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs, and spices and that excludes all animal products, including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Department of Education; Farm to School Meals; Public Schools; School Meals; Plant-based Option; Plant-Based Meal Program

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual public schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030.  Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year.  Effective 7/1/3000.  (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to school meals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that setting a target goal of thirty per cent of food served in public schools to consist of locally sourced products, as established pursuant to Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, is of great benefit for the health of Hawaii's students.

     The legislature further finds that the Aina Pono program has been considered a success, particularly in the Mililani and Kohala school districts, with evidence showing increased student meal participation, reduced food waste, cost savings, and a significant rise in locally sourced food served in school cafeterias.  The program is seen as a positive step toward educating students about fresh, local food options while supporting local farmers.

     The legislature further finds that diversifying school meal offerings to include more fresh and minimally processed options can enhance student health outcomes and provide an opportunity to support local agriculture.

     The legislature additionally finds that a plant-based diet has been shown to reduce the chance of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancers, among other things.  Offering a variety of diets, including plant-based meals, can also greatly increase demand for local greens and promote local farming jobs and agriculture.  Schools around the United States have increased their offering of plant-based school lunches with New York City offering daily plant-based meal options and California's twenty-five largest school districts providing vegan options on more than half of middle and high school menus.  Providing plant-based meals to students can promote not only a healthy lifestyle for the State's youth but encourage students to make environmentally conscious personal decisions.

     The purpose of this Act is to:

     (1)  Require the department of education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual department schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030; and

     (2)  Authorize the department of education to establish a plant-based meal program to provide a plant-based meal as an option under the school meals program.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II, subpart C, to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§302A-     Farm to school meals; complex areas; school plans.  (a)  The department shall authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual department schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships with nonprofit organizations or private entities in order for the school to reach the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030, pursuant to section 302A-405.6.

     (b)  The department shall collaborate with the complex areas or individual department schools and the farm to school providers to ensure that each school meets the local farm to school meal goal.

     (c)  The department may accept donations or grants from individuals and other agencies, public and private, for the purposes of supporting the farm to school meal programs.

     (d)  The department shall ensure that each individual department school participating in their own farm to school program maintain data and metrics to track their progress on meeting the local farm to school meal goal."

     SECTION 3.  (a)  Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the department of education may establish a plant-based meal program to provide a plant-based meal as an option under the school meals program.

     (b)  As part of the program, the department of education may establish a day within the school week to provide plant-based options for school meals.

     (c)  If the department establishes a plant-based meal program pursuant to subsection (a), the department shall:

     (1)  Submit an interim report on the progress of the plant-based meal program to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027; and

     (2)  Submit a final report on the plant-based meal program, including any findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.

     (d)  The plant-based meal program shall cease to exist on June 30, 2028.

     (e)  For the purposes of this section, "plant-based meal" means a meal consisting of all minimally processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, herbs, and spices and that excludes all animal products, including red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

Department of Education; Farm to School Meals; Department Schools; School Meals; Plant-based Option; Plant-Based Meal Program

Description:

Requires the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual department schools to form their own farm to school meal programs through partnerships to meet the local farm to school meal goal of thirty per cent of food served in the school to consist of locally sourced products by 2030.  Allows the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program no later than the 2026-2027 school year.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  395

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 328

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 328, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual department schools to form their own Farm to School Meal Programs; and

     (2)  Authorize the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program to provide a plant-based meal as an option under the school meals program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Department of Agriculture of the County of Maui; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawai‘i State Teachers Association; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Greenpeace Hawaii; Climate Protectors Hawai‘i; 350Hawaii.org; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Climate Future Forum; Hawaiian Islands Republican Women; Lou's Quality Home Health Care Services, LLC; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.

     Your Committee finds that progress toward the goal of sourcing thirty percent of school meal ingredients locally by 2030 has been slow, limiting the availability of fresh, nutritious food for students while missing an opportunity to strengthen Hawaii's agricultural economy.  Empowering individual schools and complex areas to form their own farm-to-school partnerships will create more regional opportunities for farmers, reducing transportation costs and increasing access to fresh produce.  Additionally, offering plant-based meal options provides students with healthier alternatives while supporting sustainability efforts and expanding demand for local agriculture.  This measure ensures that Hawaii's schools serve meals that nourish students while fostering a resilient, community-based food system that benefits keiki and local farmers.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 328, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  45

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 328

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 328 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SCHOOL MEALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Department of Education to authorize and facilitate complex areas or individual department schools to form their own Farm to School Meal Programs; and

     (2)  Authorize the Department of Education to establish a plant-based meal program to provide a plant-based meal as an option under the school meals program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Climate Protectors Hawaiʻi; Down to Earth Organic and Natural; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Strata Farms LLC; Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO; and numerous individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that setting a target goal of food served in public schools to consist of locally sourced products is of great benefit for the health of Hawaii's students.  Establishing a partnership between schools and nonprofit organizations or private entities to meet these target goals will increase student meal participation, reduce food waste, increase cost savings, and significantly increase the amount of locally sourced food served in school cafeterias.  Additionally, offering plant-based meals in public schools can also greatly increase demand for local greens and encourage students to engage in healthy nutrition.  This measure promotes local farming jobs and agriculture through incentives for public schools and expanding meal options for students.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that would have authorized the Department of Education to accept public or private donations or grants from individuals and other agencies to support the Farm to School Meal Programs;

     (2)  Inserting language that authorizes public schools to accept donations or contributions from individuals, nonprofit organizations, or private entities to support the farm to school meal program, subject to approval of the Superintendent of Education;

     (3)  Clarifying the applicability of the farm to school programs to the Department of Education and public schools;

     (4)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

     (5)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 328, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 328, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,