STAND. COM. REP. NO. 390

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 428

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. 428 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARM TO FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program to fund food banks in the State to purchase, store, and transport fresh, Hawaii-grown or -produced food to food insecure communities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; one member of the Kaua‘i County Council; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Hunger Action Network; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawai‘i Foodbank; Maui Food Bank; Hawai‘i Youth Food Council; Hana Farmers Market; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Waianae Coast Community Foundation; 350Hawaii.org; Ulupono Initiative; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; The Food Basket, Inc.; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawai‘i Crop Improvement Association; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii faces a persistent food security crisis, with one in three households struggling to access consistent, nutritious food. The burden falls hardest on keiki, with nearly thirty percent of children living in food-insecure homes, leading to serious developmental and health consequences. Your Committee also finds that local farmers face unpredictable markets and distribution challenges, limiting their ability to expand production. By strengthening the link between local agriculture and food assistance programs, this measure establishes and funds the Hawaii Farm to Families Program, enabling food banks to purchase, store, and distribute locally grown food and fostering a resilient food system that nourishes communities, supports local agriculture, and reduces dependence on imports.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the contents of the reports submitted to the Legislature related to the activities of the Hawaii Farm to Families Program;

(2) Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

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

(4) 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 $2,000,000.

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. 428, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 428, 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