STAND. COM. REP. NO. 391

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 967

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. 967 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and the Interagency Food Systems Working Group within the Department of Agriculture; and

(2) Appropriate funds for the working group and certain positions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Foodbank; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Food+ Policy; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii remains committed to strengthening its local food system through sustainability initiatives, increased food production, and enhanced food security. Despite these efforts, nearly one-third of households still experience food insecurity and many local farmers continue to face regulatory and logistical challenges that hinder their ability to expand production and distribution. Addressing these issues requires interagency collaboration to streamline policies, improve procurement processes, and create better market access for local producers. By establishing a Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and an Interagency Food Systems Working Group to develop a more resilient and equitable food system, this measure will support local farmers, improve food access, and promote long-term sustainability for Hawaii's communities.

Your Committee notes the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency's request for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) position to bolster their operational capacity and facilitate effective coordination among various state agencies involved in food systems management.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation and allocation to unspecified amounts;

(2) Clarifying that the appropriated funds are allocated for the purpose of hiring appropriately skilled personnel to supplement the Department of Agriculture's staff to support the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and Interagency Food Systems Working Group;

(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 at least $100,000 for the establishment and operation of the Interagency Food Systems Working Group.

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. 967, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 967, 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