STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1183

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 110

H.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 110, H.D. 1, 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 modify 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; one member of the Kauaʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and Hawaiʻi Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

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

Your Committee finds that local food products can promote healthy lifestyles and support the State's agricultural industry. Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, and Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, established benchmarks for the Department of Education to serve a minimum of thirty percent of local agricultural products in meals offered to students by 2030. However, as the amounts of food products required to be procured varies between state agencies, this measure unifies benchmarks and eliminates confusion to create a consistent and predictable approach to increase local food sourcing, foster greater economic resilience, and promote public health benefits for Hawaii's students.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

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

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 H.B. No. 110, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 110, H.D. 1, 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