H.B. 1235 Summary

• Authorizes health care providers, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and faith-based organizations to distribute supplemental nutrition assistance program (SNAP) applications to prospective applicants

• Addresses findings that 157,000 Hawaii residents participated in SNAP in fiscal year 2019 (roughly 1 in 9 of the state's population), but Hawaii ranked 27th among states in percentage of eligible individuals participating

• Notes that Hawaii receives over $448 million annually in SNAP funds and that each dollar in SNAP funds generates $1.70 in local economic activity

• Identifies lack of awareness about SNAP existence and eligibility as barriers preventing eligible individuals from participating

• Takes effect upon approval