STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3612

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2300

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 2300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PROCUREMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the purchasing and serving of local foods by the Department of Education.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Reduces the threshold amount for Department of Education procurement of local edible produce and packaged food products to qualify as small purchases that are exempt from electronic procurement; and

(2) Prohibits the artificial division and parceling of Department of Education procurements of local edible produce and packaged food items to be considered small purchases.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and three individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that the threshold set by this measure will offer the Department of Education a practical procurement tool to support its statutory obligation to increase locally sourced food while preserving transparency and documentation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2300, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair