STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3335

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2208

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, 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 and intent of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds in the form of grants for the Hawaii Farm to Families Program under the Department of Human Services to alleviate food shortages in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission; Department of Research and Development of the County of Hawaii; Office of Climate Change, Sustainability, and Resiliency of the City and County of Honolulu; Office of Economic Revitalization of the City and County of Honolulu; one member of the Hawaii County Council; Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Children's Action Network Speaks!; Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law & Economic Justice; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Hunger Action Network; Local Food Coalition; Clean the Pacific; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; ʻAhahui o nā Kauka; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; 350Hawaii.org; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Primary Care Association; Kahua O Kākou Corporation; Prince Kūhiō Hawaiian Civic Club; Jinto Farms; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Pacific Birth Collective; Maui Food Bank; Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center; Hawaiʻi Youth Food Council; Hawaiʻi Climate Future Forum; The Food Basket, Inc.; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Human Services and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the State continues to face persistent food insecurity challenges, with many families lacking consistent access to fresh, nutritious food. Your Committee further finds that, at the same time, local farmers and ranchers often struggle with unpredictable markets, high distribution costs, and limited access to stable buyers. This measure's Farm to Families Program addresses both challenges by providing a structured, state-supported program that creates a reliable market for local producers while improving access to fresh, locally sourced food for vulnerable populations.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Extending the deadlines for the Department of Human Services' summary reports on the activities of the Hawaii Farm to Families Program from 2027 and 2028, to 2029 and 2030;

(2) Making it effective upon its approval; provided that the Hawaii Farm to Families Program shall take effect on July 1, 2028; and

(3) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2208, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2208, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

________________________________

JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair