STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1173
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: S.B. No. 693
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. 693, S.D. 1, entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FOOD HUB PILOT PROGRAM,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of
Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Department of Research and
Development of the County of Hawaiʻi;
Hawai‘i
Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i
Farmers Union; Hawai‘i
Primary Care Association; Hawai‘i
Reef and Ocean Coalition; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Hawai‘i Pacific Health;
Kanalani Ohana Farm; Hawai‘i
Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawai‘i Food Hub Hui; Adaptations Food Hub
Big Island; Ho‘ōla
Farms/Hilo Food Hub; Malama Kaua‘i;
Hawai‘i
Ulu Cooperative; Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii; Adaptations Farm and Food Hub;
Feed Hawaii/Kohala Food Hub; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this
measure from Eden Farms Hawaii, Inc.
Your Committee finds that strengthening the
State's food security requires increasing local food production and improving
consumer access to locally grown food. Food
hubs serve as a critical link in this effort by facilitating the aggregation,
storage, processing, and distribution of local agricultural products. Additionally, food hubs play an essential role
in enhancing food access for underserved communities. This measure continues funding for the Food
Hub Pilot Program, ensuring that food hubs can strengthen local food supply chains,
support Hawaii's farmers, and reduce the State's dependence on imported food.
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 $1,500,000.
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. 693, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 693, 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,
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____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair |
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