STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3065

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2590

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate an unspecified amount of funds for food bank purchases from local farmers, to be expended by the Department of Agriculture via requests for proposals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Office of Hawaiian Affairs; one member of the Kauai County Council; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Food Bank, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Healthy Eating + Active Living Coalition; Young Brothers, LLC; Hawaii chapter of 350.org; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Pele Lani Farm LLC; The Food Basket Inc.; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Medical Service Association; Go Blue Communities; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; and thirty-one individuals.

Your Committee finds that the cost of food in the State has increased by more than five percent in the last twelve months. Your Committee further finds that food banks need additional support to expand its food storage capacity to combat the rise of food insecurity in the State. This measure will not only support the efforts of Hawaii's food banks, but also provide local food producers with a wider market to support their operations.

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 H.B. No. 2590, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair