CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 112

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1186

S.D. 2

H.D. 3

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 2, H.D. 3, entitled:

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

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and an Interagency Food Systems Working Group within the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Your Committee on Conference finds that an efficient and effective sustainable food system is crucial for the long-term resiliency of the State. Your Committee on Conference notes that, because of the complex and interconnected nature of food systems, a coordinated approach that involves state agencies, producers, retailers, non-governmental organizations, and community members is necessary to successfully implement interagency food systems plans and actions to achieve the food systems goals of the State. This measure seeks to help reduce Hawaii's dependence on food imports and ensure food security in the State.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Requiring that the composition of the Interagency Food Systems Working Group consist of members with relevant experience, rather than specifically five members with relevant experience;

(2) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds for the establishment of certain positions for the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and Interagency Food Systems Working Group;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of $100,000 for fiscal year 2025-2026 for operating costs for the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and Interagency Food Systems Working Group;

(4) Deleting language that would have appropriated funds for fiscal year 2026-2027 for operating costs for the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and Interagency Food Systems Working Group;

(5) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025; and

(6) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 2, H.D. 3, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 2, H.D. 3, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ GREGGOR ILAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair
____________________________ MATTHIAS KUSCH Co-Chair