STAND. COM. REP. NO. 432

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 249

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 249 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify certain benchmark goals and the timeline for the Department of Education to provide locally-sourced agricultural and food products.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, and one individual.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

Your Committee finds that Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, placed an ambitious mandate on the Department of Education to serve school meals containing thirty percent of locally sourced products. Therefore, this measure ensures the Department of Education can achieve its mandate while providing students with nutritious, fresh, and high-quality meals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 249, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 249, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair