STAND. COM. REP. NO. 84

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1334

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 H.B. No. 1334 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT DONATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt the donation of wild game meat or meat products, including axis deer, to a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization for purposes of feeding those in need from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture; one member of the Maui County Council; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Maui Wild Game Management; Hawai‘i Foodbank; Maui Food Bank; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Maui Adaptation Project; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawai‘i Pacific Advisory Group; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that food insecurity remains a pressing issue in the State, with many families struggling to access adequate nutrition. Additionally, the overpopulation of axis deer in Hawaii has caused significant damage to watersheds, ecosystems, and agricultural lands, while also contributing to economic losses for farmers and landowners. This measure provides a practical solution to those challenges by exempting the donation of wild game meat and meat products, including axis deer, to charitable, religious, and nonprofit organizations from certain inspection and transportation laws. By removing certain barriers to meat donation, this measure enables hunters and landowners to help control the invasive deer population while providing a healthy, locally sourced protein to those in need.

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.

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 H.B. No. 1334, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1334, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair