CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 110

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 693

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir and Madam:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 693, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FOOD HUB PILOT PROGRAM,"

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 appropriate funds for the continued implementation of the Food Hub Pilot Program, including the awarding of grants to qualifying food hubs.

Your Committee on Conference finds that food hubs can play an important role in the State's efforts to improve food security and self-sufficiency. This measure supports efforts to encourage the production of more locally grown food, strengthen local supply chains, promote environmental stability, and grow the agricultural economy by providing additional financial assistance to the temporary Food Hub Pilot Program established pursuant to Act 313, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,500,000 in general funds for the fiscal biennium; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2025.

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 S.B. No. 693, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 693, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ MATTHIAS KUSCH Co-Chair	____________________________ DRU KANUHA Co-Chair