STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1673
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2025
RE: H.C.R. No. 104
Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Third State Legislature
Regular Session of 2025
State of Hawaii
Madame:
Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 104 entitled:
"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STRENGTHEN FARM-TO-SCHOOL INITIATIVES,"
begs leave to report as follows:
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience; Climate Future Forum's Regenerative Food Systems Working Group; Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition and Climate Protectors Hawaii; and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.
Your Committee finds that Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021 (Act 175), established a goal for at least thirty percent of school meal ingredients to be sourced locally by 2030. Your Committee further finds that significant barriers continue to hinder progress in meeting the local food procurement goal, including procurement regulations, distribution logistics, and inconsistent farmer-school partnerships. Your Committee believes that immediate action to strengthen local farm-to-school initiatives should be taken by the Department of Education to meet the requirements of Act 175 to ensure that Hawaii's students receive school meals made from fresh, locally grown products while encouraging economic growth and strengthening the agricultural sector of the State.
As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 104 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
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____________________________ JUSTIN H. WOODSON, Chair |
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