STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1250-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: S.B. No. 1230

S.D. 2

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 S.B. No. 1230, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT DONATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to exempt the donation of wild game meat, including axis deer, by a hunter for the use or distribution by a charitable, religious, or nonprofit organization to needy persons from certain laws regarding the inspection and transportation of meat.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; one member of the Maui County Council; Maui Wild Game Management to Feed the Hungry; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Maui County Farm Bureau; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health.

Your Committee finds that food insecurity remains a pressing issue in Hawaii, with many families struggling to access adequate food sources. Additionally, the overpopulation of axis deer in the State has caused significant damage to watersheds, ecosystems, and agricultural lands, while also contributing to economic losses for farmers and landowners. This measure provides a practical, win-win solution to those challenges by exempting the donation of wild game meat and meat products, including axis deer, to charitable, religious, and nonprofit organizations from certain inspection and transportation laws, which will enable hunters and landowners to help control the invasive axis deer population while providing healthy, locally sourced proteins to those in need.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 S.B. No. 1230, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1230, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Health.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair