STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1410

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1250

S.D. 1

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. 1250, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARM TO FAMILIES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program to fund food banks in the State to purchase, store, and transport locally grown or produced food to communities that are experiencing food insecurity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board No. 34; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaiʻi; City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency; Hawai‘i Youth Food Council; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Green Party Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Pacific Health; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Ohana Unity Party; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Foodbank; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Maui Food Bank; Hawai‘i Health & Harm Reduction Center; Ho‘okipa Kauai; The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center; Lokoea Farms; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; The Food Basket Inc.; Hawai‘i Children's Action Network Speaks!; 350Hawaii.org; Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services; Our Lady of Sorrows Church; Hawai‘i Hunger Action Network; Maui County Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaii Farmers Union; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Kaiser Permanente Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that food insecurity is a pressing issue in Hawaii, with one in three households struggling to access consistent and nutritious food. This crisis disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, particularly keiki and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. This measure establishes and funds the Hawaii Farm to Families Program, which will enable food banks to purchase, store, and distribute fresh, locally grown produce to food-insecure communities. By strengthening the connection between local agriculture and food assistance programs, this measure not only ensures that families receive nutritious food but also supports Hawaii's farmers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) 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 $2,000,000.

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. 1250, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1250, S.D. 1, 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