Hawaii legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Hawaii HB2208: Relating to Food Security.
Status: In committee, May 1, 2026
Establishes and appropriates funds for the Hawaii Farm to F amilies Program under the Department of Human Services to alleviate food shortages in the State. Requires reports to the Legislature before the Regular Sessions of 2027 and 2028.
What the bill says
A bill for an act relating to food security.
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY. SECTION 1. The legislature finds that one in three households in Hawaii is struggling to secure consistent access to food, and that two-thirds of these families are experiencing the most extreme version of this - reducing food intake, skipping meals, or going whole days without eating. This data paints a sobering picture of families in distress, underscoring the need for immediate action to restore the basic dignity of nourishment to every household across the islands. The legislature further finds that the crisis disproportionately affects the most vulnerable in Hawaii: the keiki. Thirty-four per cent of children in Hawaii are growing up in food-insecure homes, some enduring entire days without a meal. When experiencing hunger, keiki can face increased risk of cognitive issues, aggression, anxiety, behavioral problems, depression, and suicidal ideation; and in households with children, food insecurity among parents and caretakers is especially high at forty-five per cent. For families facing 2026-1960 HB2208 SDl SMA.docx iniiHiiiiuliiiniiniiiiiiiiii Page H.B. NO. hunger, fresh, healthy produce is often one of the first things removed from grocery lists, negatively affecting long-term health. The legislature additionally finds that this emergency also disproportionately impacts Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and Filipino households, with food insecurity in these households ranging from thirty-six to forty-seven per cent. These …
Sponsors
- Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6) · primary sponsor
- Terez Amato (D, 11)
- Cory Chun (D, 35)
- Andrew Garrett (D, 22)
- Tina Grandinetti (D, 20)
- Ikaika Hussey (D, 29)
- Greggor Ilagan (D, 4)
- Kim Iwamoto (D, 25)
- Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy (D, 2)
- Darius Kila (D, 44)
- Nicole Lowen (D, 7)
- Lisa Marten (D, 51)
Latest actions
- : Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 5:05PM in conference room 329.
- : Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 1:45PM in conference room 329.
- : Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Thursday, 04-30-26 1:45PM in conference room 329.
- : Received notice of Senate conferees (Sen. Com. No. 725).
- : Senate Conferees Appointed: San Buenaventura Chair; Kanuha Co-Chair; Fevella.
- : Received notice of appointment of House conferees (Hse. Com. No. 786).
- : House Conferees Appointed: Marten, Kusch, Keohokapu-Lee Loy Co-Chairs; Olds, Alcos.
- : Received notice of disagreement (Hse. Com. No. 599).
- : House disagrees with Senate amendment (s).
- : Returned from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 549) in amended form (SD 1).
Votes
- Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading (April 10, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- WAM: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (April 6, 2026): 12 yea, 0 nay, passed
- HHS: recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS (March 25, 2026): 3 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1) (March 5, 2026): 50 yea, 0 nay, passed
- FIN: recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED (February 26, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1) (February 20, 2026): 49 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: Report, Appropriations, Penalties, Rules, Counties, DHS, Prohibition, Food Security
Common questions
- What is HB2208?
- HB2208 is a bill in the Hawaii Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Relating to Food Security.
- What does HB2208 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act relating to food security.
- What is the status of HB2208?
- In committee as of May 1, 2026. Latest action: Conference Committee Meeting will reconvene on Friday 05-01-26 5:05PM in conference room 329. (May 1, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2208?
- Kirstin Kahaloa (D, 6), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2208?
- On the Hawaii Legislature website: https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2208&year=2026
Source: official Hawaii record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.