Hawaii House Bill HB2310

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/26
• Refer: 1/30/26
• Report Pass: 2/19/26
• Refer: 2/19/26
• Report Pass: 3/5/26
• Engrossed: 3/5/26
• Refer: 3/10/26
• Report Pass: 3/30/26
• Refer: 3/30/26
• Report Pass: 4/9/26
• Report Pass: 5/1/26
• Enrolled: 5/6/26

Caption

MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

Summary

HB2310 is an appropriations measure that provides emergency funding to the Department of Human Services for two related purposes. Part I replenishes state general funds that were redirected during the 2025 federal government shutdown to support emergency food assistance, including the Hawaii Emergency Food Assistance Program, support for the Hawaii Food Bank, and 211 call center services through Aloha United Way. The bill states that the shutdown disrupted SNAP-related benefits and other federal funding streams, and it seeks to restore DHS’s budget so the department can meet existing obligations without penalties or interest. Part II appropriates additional general funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to help supplement premium contributions for participating health plans. The bill ties this funding to anticipated federal policy changes that could cause some residents to lose health insurance coverage, with the stated goal of preserving access to health care and reducing uncompensated emergency care costs for providers. The bill takes effect upon approval, with the health coverage portion delayed until July 1, 2026.

Impact

The bill amends state spending by authorizing $14,248,126 in general funds for fiscal year 2025-2026 to reimburse DHS for emergency food assistance costs incurred during the federal shutdown, and $16,500,000 in general funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 to support premium assistance-related payments. It does not create a new regulatory program, but it directs DHS to expend the appropriations for the specified purposes and effectively restores funding that had been shifted from other DHS programs. The measure also reinforces state support for food security, emergency nutrition assistance, and health coverage stabilization for residents affected by federal actions.

Sentiment

The overall sentiment appears strongly supportive and urgent. The bill is framed as an emergency response to federal disruptions affecting food security and health coverage, and it was advanced through the Senate committees and conference process without any recorded dissenting votes in the provided history. The governor’s recommendation for immediate passage further suggests executive support and a sense of necessity around the appropriations.

Contention

There is little visible opposition in the available record, but the main policy tension lies in the size and purpose of the appropriations. One point of concern is the use of general funds to backfill DHS spending that had already been redirected during the shutdown, which may raise budgetary questions about state fiscal priorities. Another potential area of debate is Part II, which anticipates federal policy changes and uses state funds to help maintain insurance coverage; while supporters emphasize access to care and provider relief, critics could question the scope, timing, or long-term cost of subsidizing premium contributions.