STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2763

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 3137

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. 3137, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH'S AUTHORITY TO REGULATE FOOD, DRUGS, AND COSMETICS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is eliminate statutory redundancies and clarify legal authority to facilitate the Department of Health's regulation of food, drugs, and cosmetics.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Relocates from chapter 321, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to chapter 328, Hawaii Revised Statutes, certain provisions relating to food, drugs, and cosmetics; and

(2) Makes conforming amendments.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Health and Hawaii Food+ Policy.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that currently, similar statutory provisions related to food, drugs, and cosmetics appear in both chapter 321 and chapter 328, Hawaii Revised Statutes. These duplications and the lack of organization have led to a lack of alignment in applicable administrative rules. Your Committee therefore finds that consolidating the applicable statutory provisions, as proposed by this measure, will assist the Department of Health in its regulatory efforts, and consequently improve the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics made and sold in the State.

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. 3137, 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