STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2832

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 3063, 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 increase the availability of local edible produce and packaged food products in public school meals.

Specifically, this measure exempts from the requirement to conduct procurement through an electronic system the procurement of local edible produce and packaged food products for the Department of Education that cost not more than five per cent more than non-local alternatives.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, and Agriculture Stewardship Hawai`i.

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

Your Committee finds that increasing the availability of locally produced food for use in school meals will support the State's agriculture industry and increase food production sustainability. Your Committee further finds that this measure facilitates the Department of Education's purchase of local edible produce and packaged food products by exempting these procurements from certain requirements of the Hawaii Public Procurement Code.

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 S.B. No. 3063, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair