STAND. COM. REP. NO. 595-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 2572

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 H.B. No. 2572 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUBSISTENCE GARDENING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a three-year Subsistence-Plus Gardening Pilot Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that increasing community participation in food production strengthens the State's overall food resilience. Small-scale gardening initiatives, particularly those focused on priority and cultural crops, can help reconnect residents with agriculture, improve food awareness, and encourage local food production at the household and community level. Your Committee further finds that the establishment of a Subsistence-Plus Gardening Pilot Program will enable the State to explore practical options to improve grassroots food production while evaluating the Pilot Program's long-term viability and impact.

Your Committee has amended this measure:

(1) By 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 H.B. No. 2572, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2572, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair