STAND. COM. REP. NO. 396

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 497

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 497, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE HAWAII CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs as an agency in the Department of Agriculture; and

(2) Fund grant-based programs to be administered through the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawai‘i Public Health Institute; Farm Link Hawai‘i; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs plays a vital role in linking federal nutrition services with local school meal programs, ensuring compliance with federal requirements while supporting food access for students. As the Department of Education works toward its "30 by 30" goal—sourcing at least thirty percent of school meal ingredients locally by 2030—additional resources and staffing are needed to strengthen farm-to-school connections. This measure better aligns the Hawaii Child Nutrition Programs' mission with the State's broader agricultural goals and provides funding for grant-based programs, further supporting Hawaii's commitment to improving nutrition, food security, and local agricultural sustainability.

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 Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 497, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 497, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair