STAND. COM. REP. NO. 869

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 496

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 496, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MĀMAKI TEA,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish labeling requirements for māmaki tea, including by prohibiting the use of certain words on a consumer package unless one hundred percent of the tea or dried leaves were grown in the State; and

(2) Appropriate funds for a Measurement Standards Inspector position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; and two individuals.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 496, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair