STAND. COM. REP. NO. 567

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1293

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 1293 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to temporarily:

(1) Exempt certain Department of Education purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products that are less than an unspecified amount from the electronic procurement system requirement;

(2) Require at least three written quotes for certain Department of Education purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products; and

(3) Require no less than two written quotes for certain purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products for certain schools in rural communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Education is mandated to provide at least thirty percent locally sourced foods to Hawaii's public schools by 2030. Your Committee further finds that adjusting the Department of Education's small purchase procurement capacity will provide an additional tool to procure fresh products from local farmers and ranchers and assist the Department in fulfilling its mandate to provide locally sourced foods for Hawaii's public schools.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that Department of Education purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products that are less than $100,000 are exempt from the electronic procurement system requirement;

(2) Requiring no less than three written quotes for Department of Education purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products of $15,000 to less than $25,000;

(3) Require no less than two written quotes for purchases of local edible produce and packaged food products of $5,000 to less than $15,000 for schools in rural communities;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000; and

(5) 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 Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1293, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1293, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair