STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1485

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1187

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1187, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PROCUREMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the growth of the State's agricultural industry.

Specifically, this measure phases in a ban on the purchase by state departments and agencies of flowers and lei that contain imported plant material.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State Procurement Office, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and Hawaii Farm Bureau.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from Watanabe Floral, Inc.; Paradise Leis; Buy Hawaiian Lei; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that phasing in a requirement for state agencies to purchase locally grown flowers and lei will help to create a stable and predictable market for local flower producers, allowing those producers to invest in their operations and expand production.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Removing references to flowers throughout the measure;

(2) Clarifying that the restrictions in the measure apply to all purchases of lei by state departments and administratively attached agencies, including small purchases made under section 103D-305, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

(3) Changing the effective date from July 1, 3000, to upon the measure's approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1187, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1187, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair