STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3804

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2774

H.D. 2

S.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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2774, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to modify certain benchmark goals and the timeline for the Department of Education to provide locally-sourced agricultural and food products.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Department of Education, Hawaii Ulu Cooperative, Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Ulupono Initiative, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, Hawaii Food + Policy, and four individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and one individual.

Your Committee finds that this measure will help the State meet its food sustainability goals by resolving discrepancies between the locally sourced food benchmarks for the Department of Education and those of other state entities.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2774, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair