SB 3129

THE SENATE
S.B. NO.
3129
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
���� SECTION 1.�
This Act is recommended by the governor for immediate passage in
accordance with section 9 of article VII of the Constitution of the State of
Hawaii.
���� SECTION 2.�
The legislature finds that the federal government shutdown that
commenced on October 1, 2025, and ended on November 12, 2025, threatened the
food security of Hawaii residents who receive supplemental nutrition assistance
program benefits, as well as Hawaii's federal employees and contractors whose
employment and income were disrupted.�
The shutdown also delayed access to other federal grant funding.
���� During the shutdown, the United States
Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, issued multiple
instructions to the department of human service regarding the benefit amounts
and the timing of distribution for November supplemental nutrition assistance
program benefits.� To fund these efforts,
the department of human services redirected state fiscal year 2025-2026 general
fund appropriations from its eighteen programs and received transferred funds
from the department of labor and industrial relations.
���� To date, the department of human services
has distributed Hawaii emergency food assistance program benefits to 81,399
eligible households, which includes 161,549 individuals enrolled in the
supplemental nutrition assistance program.�
To cover the cost for 27,406 eligible households with a dependent child
totaling 101,655 individuals, the department of human services can access
federal funds from the temporary assistance for needy families program.
���� The legislature further finds that the
department of human services needs an emergency appropriation in the amount of
$14,248,126 in general funds to cover the amounts it paid for the response to
federal shutdown, specifically: �$11,807,126
for the Hawaii emergency food relief program, $2,000,000 to support the Hawaii Food
Bank for purchase and distribution of food, and $441,000 to the Aloha United
Way for 211 call center support.
���� Therefore, the purpose of this Act is to
appropriate general funds to replenish the remaining balance of fiscal year
2025-2026 general fund appropriations that were redirected to support Hawaii
residents' food security, enabling the department of human services to meet its
existing obligations and avoid the assessment of penalties and interest.
���� SECTION 3.�
There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $14,248,126, or so much thereof as may be
necessary, for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to offset costs incurred by the
department of human services in providing emergency food assistance to Hawaii
residents during the federal government shutdown.� The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
department of human services for the purposes of this Act.
���� SECTION 4.�
This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
INTRODUCED BY:
_____________________________
BY
  REQUEST
Report Title:
DHS; Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program; Federal
Government Shutdown; Emergency Appropriation
Description:
Provides an emergency appropriation to the Department of
Human Services to replace general fund appropriations redirected to provide
emergency food assistance during the 2025 federal government shutdown.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.