HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	56
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO PETITION THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ADDRESS THE Delay in updating school lunch nutrition standards.

 

 

 

     WHEREAS, by law, the United States Department of Agriculture is required to update the School Nutrition Standards to be in accordance with the latest version of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Department of Agriculture did not release their updated requirements to the School Nutrition Standards to be in accordance with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans until 2024; and

 

     WHEREAS, this has brought many questions and comments by school food service directors, as this change was set to fully go into effect in the 2025-2026 school year and extend to school years beyond; and

 

     WHEREAS, despite these recent changes, the newest Dietary Guidelines for Americans which covers 2025-2030 has been released, indicating that there will be more changes to come from the United States Department of Agriculture; and

 

     WHEREAS, during a session hosted by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Acting Associate Administrator for Child Nutrition Programs and Food and Nutrition Services Chief Policy Advisor could not give much information about the changes to come; and

 

     WHEREAS, this lag in updating nutrition standards poses a serious issue for Hawaii public schools to develop school lunch menus, as well as to fulfill the legislative mandate to source thirty per cent of school food locally by 2030; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 2024, only 5.43% of school food spending went toward Hawai‘i-grown products which is a significant difference in percentage from the 2030 Hawai‘i’s Farm to School goal; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the Senate concurring, that Hawaii's congressional delegation is requested to petition the United States Department of Agriculture to address the delay in updating school lunch nutrition standards; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the members of Hawaii's congressional delegation and Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

USDA; School Nutrition Standards; Farm to School