STAND. COM. REP. NO. 858

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 1426

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1426, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a food and product innovation network with the Agribusiness Development Corporation; and

(2) Appropriate funds for food and product innovation facilities on the islands of Molokai, Oahu, and Hawaii as part of the food and product innovation network.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and Hawaii Food Industry Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawai‘i System; Agribusiness Development Corporation; and The Food Basket, Hawai‘i Island's Food Bank.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1426, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair