STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1212

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2021

RE: S.B. No. 338

S.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 338, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO A FOOD HUB PILOT PROGRAM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enhance the State's food security by:

(1) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to establish a five-year food hub pilot program to increase access to local food by awarding grant funding to qualified applicants seeking to establish or expand a food hub;

(2) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to submit to the Legislature interim reports and a final report on the pilot program;

(3) Appropriating funds for the establishment of the food hub pilot program; and

(4) Authorizing the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriating funds to finance critical infrastructure upgrades for the Honalo Marshalling Yard.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Health; University of Hawai‘i System; Office of Planning; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Artfarm808; Apollo Kauai; Zero Waste Kauai; Kauai Women's Caucus; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Americans for Democratic Action; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Climate Protectors Hawaii; PlanIt; Our Revolution Hawaii; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; UH West Oahu Food+Policy Internship; Kāpili Like; Kāpili Like Hawai‘i; Kaua‘i Food Hub; Save Oahu Farmlands Alliance; Foresight/Policy Analysis; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committee finds that food hubs are centrally located facilities with a business management structure that facilitates the aggregation, storage, processing, distribution, and marketing of locally grown produce and are an integral piece of agricultural infrastructure necessary to sustain state and community efforts to double local food production.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 338, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair