STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1719-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.C.R. No. 144

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.C.R. No. 144 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING CERTAIN STATE AND COUNTY AGENCIES, IN COORDINATION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE FOOD SECURITY STRATEGY,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request certain state and county agencies, in coordination with community-based organizations, to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity; Hawaiʻi State Council on Developmental Disabilities; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute; Healthy Eating + Active Living Statewide Coalition; Waiakea Inc.; Agriculture Stewardship Hawaiʻi; Hawaiʻi Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice; Young Brothers LLC; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Foodbank; and two individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism.

Your Committee finds that food insecurity remains a significant and persistent challenge across the State, with a substantial number of households lacking consistent access to sufficient, nutritious, and affordable food, and that families with children, young adults, and households relying on federal nutrition assistance experience particularly high rates of food insecurity.

Your Committee recognizes that food insecurity has far‑reaching consequences for public health, educational outcomes, community resilience, and long‑term economic stability, and that addressing these impacts requires coordinated, data‑driven, and equity‑focused action. Your Committee believes that a comprehensive statewide food security strategy will support informed policymaking, strengthen local food systems, and promote equitable access to nutritious, locally produced foods across the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Chairperson of Agriculture and Biosecurity or the Chairperson's designee, to collaborate with certain state and county agencies and community-based organizations to develop the comprehensive statewide food security strategy;

(2) Amending the information that is requested to be included in the comprehensive statewide food security strategy;

(3) Requesting the comprehensive statewide food security strategy to be submitted to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2028, rather than prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027;

(4) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

(5) 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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 144, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Economic Development & Technology in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 144, H.D. 1.

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

____________________________

CORY CHUN, Chair