STAND. COM. REP. NO. 68

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1186

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 1186 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a Statewide Interagency Food Systems Coordination Team and an Interagency Food Systems Working Group within the Department of Agriculture;

(2) Require annual reports to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Office of Planning and Sustainable Development; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; MetroGrow Hawaii; Oʻahu Resource Conservation and Development Council; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Kapanaia Farms; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; Restore the Commons; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council; and eleven individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency and one individual.

Your Committee finds that food insecurity in the State is alarmingly high, and that there are many barriers that make it challenging for businesses that want to produce food locally. Your Committee further finds that because of the complex and interconnected nature of food systems, a coordinated approach is essential to address these challenges. This measure promotes collaboration between government agencies and agricultural stakeholders to ensure food security in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriations to an unspecified amount;

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

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

Your Committee notes that this measure, as amended, contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider inserting an appropriation amount of $944,100 for both fiscal years to the Department of Agriculture, to be allocated as follows:

(1) $399,300 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) food systems specialist position within the Department of Agriculture;

(2) $253,400 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) policy analyst position within the Department of Agriculture;

(3) $191,400 for the establishment of one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) administrative assistant position within the Department of Agriculture; and

(4) $100,000 for the establishment and operation of the Interagency Food Systems Working Group, to include conducting stakeholder coordination, public meetings, and information management.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1186, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1186, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair