# Hawaii SB 53: RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

Hawaii SB 53, RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM., is a 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2) Senate bill sponsored by Karl Rhoads (Democratic); status failed, last action 2025-12-08 (Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB53-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Hawaii SB 53
- State: Hawaii
- Session: 2025–2026 Regular Session (Year 2)
- Title: RELATING TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-01-08
- Last action: 2025-12-08, Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Eligibility, Appropriations, HHS, WAM
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Expands eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to include any individual or household whose monthly income is equal to or less than three hundred per cent of the federal poverty level. Appropriates funds.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Karl Rhoads (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Stanley Chang (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Y. Moriwaki (Democratic), Senate

## Actions (6)

- 2025-12-08: Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
- 2025-01-29: The committee on HHS deferred the measure. (Senate)
- 2025-01-24: The committee(s) on HHS has scheduled a public hearing on 01-29-25 1:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference. (Senate)
- 2025-01-16: Referred to HHS, WAM. (Senate)
- 2025-01-15: Introduced and passed First Reading. (Senate)
- 2025-01-08: Pending Introduction. (Senate)

## Bill text

- Original: [HTML](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB53_.HTM), [PDF](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB53_.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS. (became law)
- HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES. (signed)
- HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION. (signed)
- SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING. (signed)
- HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH. (signed)

## Sources
- [Original (HTML)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB53_.HTM)
- [Original (PDF)](https://data.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessions/session2026/bills/SB53_.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 847: RELATING TO PSYCHOLOGISTS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB847-2026)
- [HB 2344: RELATING TO SCHOOL FACILITIES.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2344-2026)
- [HB 2023: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2023-2026)
- [HB 2021: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB2021-2026)
- [SB 2338: RELATING TO HOUSING.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB2338-2026)
- [HB 1973: RELATING TO HEALTH.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-HB1973-2026)
- [Hawaii bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii/bills)
- [Hawaii state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/hawaii)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/HI-SB53-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).