STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1175

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1186

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaiʻi; City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawai‘i; Namnama Farms; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaii Farmers Union - Haleakala Chapter; Oahu Resource Conservation & Development Council; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency and Eden Farms Hawaii, Inc.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is committed to sustainable economic growth, strengthening local food production, improving food access, addressing climate change, and reducing food insecurity. Your Committee further finds that achieving a resilient and equitable food system requires collaboration among state agencies, farmers, retailers, non-profits, and communities to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and disaster response. This measure establishes the Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and the Interagency Food Systems Working Group within the Agribusiness Development Corporation to strengthen strategic planning and cross-sector collaboration.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation for an unspecified amount for a temporary full-time equivalent position for the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 the requests of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agribusiness Development Corporation for one full-time equivalent position each to effectuate the purposes of this measure.

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 S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair