STAND. COM. REP. NO. 515-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2130

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2130 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish and appropriate funds for the Sustainable Food Systems Working Group to develop an interagency food systems plan;

(2) Require the working group to submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2025; and

(3) Appropriate funds for Sustainability Specialist positions within the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Food Industry Association; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State's goals of achieving food self-sufficiency require the development of a sustainable food system, which would create a vibrant and resilient local food economy. This measure would establish and support the efforts of a working group to develop an interagency food systems plan to create a local food economy that integrates the objectives of sustainable economic development with environmental protections, food security, and climate change resiliency for the betterment of community health and well-being.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a member who possesses knowledge of agricultural operations to the working group;

(2) Adding certain qualifications for the Sustainability Specialist positions within the Department of Agriculture;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) 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. 2130, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2130, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair