SB 961 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Summary

Requires the Department of Human Services to adjust the minimum certification periods for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits households, participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, and report to the Legislature. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 17, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB961_HD1 → SB961_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill establishes minimum certification periods for SNAP benefits, requiring households to be certified for at least twelve months (or twenty-four months for households with all adult members aged sixty or older). It also mandates participation in the Elderly Simplified Application Project to simplify eligibility determinations for qualifying households and requires the Department of Human Services to submit implementation reports to the legislature by 2028-2029.

Scope change

The bill applies to all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households in Hawaii, with specific provisions for elderly households (60+ years) and households with disabilities.

TIMELINE

The effective date was changed from July 1, 3000 to July 1, 2027, making the certification period requirements immediately actionable.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for the Department of Human Services to participate in the Elderly Simplified Application Project, which includes establishing 36-month recertification periods for elderly and disabled households and waiving recertification interviews where federal law allows.

Modified the certification period requirements from 24 months for elderly households to a minimum of 12 months for all households, with 24 months minimum for households where all adult members are 60 years or older.

REPORTING

Added requirement for the Department of Human Services to submit detailed implementation reports to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular sessions of 2028 and 2029.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 19, 2025

Committee

Reported from HSH (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1369) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on HSH recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Representative(s) Marten, Olds, Amato, Chun, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Takayama, Takenouchi, Alcos, Garcia; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 6, 2025

Committee

Referred to HSH, FIN, referral sheet 19

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 230) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in WAM were as follows: 13 Aye(s): Senator(s) Dela Cruz, Moriwaki, Aquino, DeCoite, Elefante, Hashimoto, Inouye, Kanuha, Kidani, Kim, Lee, C., Wakai, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Feb 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on WAM will hold a public decision making on 02-27-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 211 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 14, 2025

Committee

Reported from HHS (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 646) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in HHS were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) San Buenaventura, Aquino, Hashimoto, Keohokalole, Fevella; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Jan 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Committee

Referred to HHS, WAM.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors