STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 37
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.B. No. 452
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. 452 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT PROCESSING,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.
Your Committee finds that there is a need
for increased meat processing capacity in the State, as smaller ranchers and
hunters compete for limited capacity, resulting in the loss of potential use of
wild game meat. Additionally, axis deer,
an invasive species that poses a continuing threat to Hawaii's environment, and
other wild game could provide significant quantities of meat as a protein
source for non-profit food distribution centers. This measure would strengthen Hawaii's food self-sufficiency
by expanding the meat processing capacity of the State through a grant program
and allowing for the potential use of wild game meat by non-profit food
distribution services.
Your Committee has amended this measure by:
(1) Inserting language that specifies standards for the issuance of grants under the program;
(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 requests your Committee on Economic Development & Technology, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider establishing and appropriating funds for a meat processing mobile or brick-and-mortar facility on a rural island, Hawaii island, or the island of Maui, rather than establishing a grant program.
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. 452, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 452, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,
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____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair |