STAND. COM. REP. NO. 895

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1291

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 1291, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to extend the offense of false labeling of Hawaii-grown coffee to include roasted coffee.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Coffee Growers Association; Synergistic Hawai‘i Agriculture Council; Heavenly Hawaiian Farms; Kona Coffee Farmers Association; Hawaii Coffee Association; and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii-grown coffee is recognized for its high quality and aromatic flavor and is held to a set of quality standards, making it one of the most expensive coffees in the world. Hawaii's coffee industry is a vital economic driver for the State, generating millions of dollars annually in agricultural value. To protect this lucrative industry, the Legislature enacted Act 211, Session Laws of Hawaii 2023, which requires all coffee products carrying a Hawaii geographical reference to disclose the location where the coffee was grown and indicate the percentage by weight of locally grown coffee and coffee grown elsewhere. However, your Committee notes that existing law is focused on green, or unroasted, coffee, creating a loophole that allows mislabeling of roasted coffee containing little or no genuine Hawaii-grown beans. This measure addresses this loophole and strengthens consumer protections by ensuring that roasted coffee labeled as Hawaii-grown truly originates from Hawaii farms.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1291, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair