CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 48-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2298

H.D. 1

S.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the House of Representatives to the amendments proposed by the Senate in H.B. No. 2298, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONSUMER PROTECTION,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Make it a violation to use a Hawaii geographic origin in labeling or advertising for roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages that contain less than a certain percentage of coffee by weight from that Hawaii geographic origin, phased in to a minimum of one hundred percent by July 1, 2027; and

(2) Exempt retailers that do not package roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages from liability for the sale of roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages that use a label or advertisement in violation of the coffee labeling law.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the timeline that phased in the minimum percentage of coffee by weight from a Hawaii geographic origin to a minimum of one hundred percent by July 1, 2027;

(2) Continuing the existing statutory minimum of ten percent of coffee by weight through June 30, 2027, and, beginning July 1, 2027, increasing the minimum percentage to fifty-one percent of coffee by weight when using a Hawaii geographic origin in labeling or advertising for roasted coffee, instant coffee, or ready-to-drink coffee beverages;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2024; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2298, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2298, H.D. 1, S.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

____________________________ HERBERT RICHARDS Chair	____________________________ MARK M. NAKASHIMA Co-Chair
____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair	____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES Co-Chair
____________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE Co-Chair