STAND. COM. REP. NO. 171-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2459

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2459 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE FOOD AND PRODUCT INNOVATION NETWORK,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Food and Product Innovation Network to integrate a coordinated food safety and regulatory framework;

(2) Require the Agribusiness Development Corporation to:

(A) Establish performance indicators for the Food and Product Innovation Network;

(B) Develop and implement a market access strategy;

(D) Report certain data to the Legislature; and

(3) Require the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to evaluate opportunities to expand or adapt enterprise zone incentives in all counties.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Health; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority and University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience.

Your Committee finds that this measure will strengthen the Food and Product Innovation Network by refining governance, performance accountability, regulatory integration, branding, export facilitation, and international engagement that aligns with existing law and the State's food security and economic diversification goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting language that would have required the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to evaluate opportunities to expand or adapt enterprise zone incentives in all counties;

(2) Inserting language that appropriates an unspecified amount of funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation for the operations of the Food and Product Innovation Network;

(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. 2459, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2459, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair