STAND. COM. REP. NO. 828-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2208

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 Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2208, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD SECURITY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program to alleviate food shortages in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaiʻi; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resilience of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Economic Revitalization of the City and County of Honolulu; one member of the Maui County Council; one member of the Hawaiʻi County Council; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Maui Food Bank; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Climate Future Forum; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi; Lanakila Pacific; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; ʻAhahui o nā Kauka; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Get Fit Kauai; Hawaiʻi Good Food Alliance; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Local Food Coalition; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Health & Harm Reduction Center; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Na Kiaʻi O Maui; The Food Basket Inc., Hawaiʻi Island's Food Bank; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Lokoea Farms; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and Healthy Eating, Active Living Coalition; Hawaii Primary Care Association; Ulupono Initiative; Hanai Hives; 350Hawaii.org; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Pele Lani Farm LLC; Kauaʻi Bible Church; Pacific Birth Collective; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and one individual.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2208, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair