STAND. COM. REP. NO. 434

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1450

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1450 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE RESILIENCY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a three-year Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Pilot Program to provide grants to agricultural producers in the State for the acquisition of special-purpose equipment, technology, and ancillary costs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; 350Hawaii.org; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's agricultural sector faces increasing challenges due to high equipment costs, climate change, and global supply chain disruptions. To strengthen local food production and enhance resilience, farmers and ranchers require financial support to invest in climate-smart technology and infrastructure. By equipping local producers with these resources, this measure will improve farm efficiency and promote long-term food security.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $3,000,000.

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. 1450, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1450, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair