STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2338

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3063

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 Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 3063 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 exempt from the Hawaii Public Procurement Code procurements by the Department of Education of any amount of local edible produce and packaged food products that do not cost more than five percent of non-local alternatives.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that increasing the percentage of locally sourced products used for the Department of Education's school meal program is integral to achieving the State's food system sustainability and public health goals. While locally sourced products often cost more than imported alternatives, their procurement for school meals supports local agricultural production and healthier foods for students. By simplifying the procurement process, this measure can help reduce the cost and increase the feasibility of procuring more locally sourced foods for school meals.

Your Committee acknowledges the concerns raised in testimony by the Department of the Attorney General that the term "non-local alternatives" is not defined in this measure or the Hawaii Revised Statutes, which may cause confusion. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address this matter.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a definition for "non-local alternatives"; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3063, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3063, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

DONNA MERCADO KIM, Chair