STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2584

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2477

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2477 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Include single-ingredient products as a purchasing option for certain state departments and entities to fulfill their local food purchasing requirements; and

(2) Define "single-ingredient product".

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and one individual.

Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committees find that the State recognizes the importance of supporting local farmers, growers, and food producers, including the myriad benefits of consuming locally-produced food such as freshness, reduced carbon footprint, and economic support to the local community. However, there is some ambiguity with existing provisions regarding the percentage of local ingredients required for a product to be deemed a "single-ingredient products". This measure defines the term "single-ingredient product" and includes single-ingredient products as a purchasing option for certain state departments and entities to fulfill their local food purchasing requirements.

Your Committees note the concerns raised in testimony of the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau that the definition of "single-ingredient product" in the measure is unclear as to whether purchase of a product that is one hundred percent manufactured in Hawaii but has no local agricultural ingredients, qualify as a local food purchase. During the public hearing on this measure, the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau suggested, and the Department of Agriculture agreed, that removing the definition of "single-ingredient product" from this measure would be ideal.

Accordingly, your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the definition of "single-ingredient product"; and

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2112, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2477, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2477, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ ANGUS L.K. MCKELVEY, Chair