STAND. COM. REP. NO. 251

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1250

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1250 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MAMAKI TEA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect Hawaii-grown mamaki tea by:

(1) Imposing labeling requirements for mamaki tea grown in the State; and

(2) Appropriating funds to the Department of Agriculture to administer the mamaki tea labeling requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Kuwale Ridge Farms, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that mamaki tea is an herbal tea made from the leaves of the mamaki plant, which is endemic to Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that the mamaki tea industry is a fairly new industry and the State must protect this culturally important agricultural crop from deceptive or misleading labels.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1250, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1250, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair