STAND. COM. REP. NO. 931-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2459

H.D. 2

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. 2459, H.D. 2, 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;

(C) Align and harmonize state-supported branding initiatives related to food and value-added products; and

(D) Report to the Legislature economic data on indigenous and Native Hawaiian Businesses collected from surveys; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the operation of the Food and Product Innovation Network.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Department of Health; Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Chamber of Commerce Hawaii; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System.

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. 2459, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair