STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1049

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 48

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 48, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COFFEE LABELING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify the labeling and advertising requirements for coffee that is grown and processed in the State; and

(2) Make necessary distinctions between the definitions of "geographic origin" and "regional origin".

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

Your Committee finds that coffee is an important agricultural crop of the State and a highly valued commodity in Hawaii. Your Committee further finds that fraudulent representations as to a coffee's geographic origin diminish the value of that geographic identifier by harming its reputation. Your Committee further finds that misleading labeling practices continue to pose a challenge by allowing coffee blends with only a small percentage of Hawaii-grown and -processed beans to be marketed in ways that confuse consumers and devalue local coffee. This measure strengthens existing labeling laws by clearly distinguishing between geographic origin and regional origin, which is essential for protecting the reputation of coffee grown and processed in Hawaii, preventing deceptive marketing, and maintaining consumer trust.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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 Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 48, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 48, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

SCOT Z. MATAYOSHI, Chair