STAND. COM. REP. NO. I~O’) -24
Honolulu, Hawaii
APR15 , 2024
RE: S.C.R. No. 129
S.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty—Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2024
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was
referred S.C.R. No. 129, S.D. 1, entitled:
“SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS WORKING
GROUP TO DEVELOP AN INTERAGENCY FOOD SYSTEMS PLAN,”
begs leave to report as follows:
The purpose and intent of this measure is to request:
(1) The Department of Agriculture establish a Sustainable
Food Systems Working Group to develop an Interagency
Food Systems Plan;
(2) The Working Group submit the Plan and its
recommendations for the implementation of the Plan to
the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025;
(3) The Department provide any necessary administrative and
staff support to the Working Group; and
(4) The Working Group be dissolved on June 30, 2025.
Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure
from the Local Food Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Food
Industry Association; Hawai’i Farm Bureau; and one individual.
SCR129 SD1 HSCR AGR
 STAND. CON. REP. NO. -24
Page 2
Your Committee received comments on this measure from the
Department of Agriculture.
Your Committee finds that food imports encompass eighty-five
percent of available food in the State, which leaves communities
vulnerable to disasters that may alter or disturb the current food
system. Your Committee further finds that the development of a
sustainable food system would not only make its local food
production more resilient, but also support “green” job creation,
sustainable economic development, land stewardship, and climate
change resiliency. This measure temporarily establishes a
Sustainable Food Systems Working Group to help establish a more
sustainable food system for the State.
Your Committee notes testimony received by the Department of
Agriculture stating that the Department lacks the capacity to meet
unfunded mandates and that creating a working group without the
participation of agricultural operators or organizations could be
less effective than desired.
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
S.C.R. No. 129, S.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your
Committee on Finance.
Respectfully submitted on
behalf of the members of the
Committee on Agriculture & Food
Sys
CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair
SCR129 SD1 HSCR AGR
 State of Hawaii
House of Representatives
The Thirty-second Legislature k”’ (4 • 3
Record of Votes of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems
Bill/Resolution No.: Committee Referral: Date:
≤tftl2A ≤~t o~/I2j2o29
C The committee is reconsidering its previous decision on the measure.
The recommendation is to: 2~Pass, unamended (as is) 0 Pass, with amendments (HD) 0 Hold
0 Pass short form bill with HD to recommit for future public hearing (recommit)
AGR Members Ayes Ayes (WR) Nays Excused
1. GATES, Cedric Asuega (C)
2. KAHALOA, Kirstin (VC)
3. COCHRAN, Elle
4. LOWEN, Nicole E.
5. PERRUSO, Amy A.
6. WOODSON, Justin H.
7. WARD, Gene
TOTAL (7)
The recommendation is: ~Adopted ~ Not Adopted
If joint referral, did not support recommendation.
committee acronym
Vice Chair’s or designee’s signature: ~~~—~___- ~
Distribution: Original (White) — Committee Duplicate (Yellow) — Chief Clerks Office Duplicate (Pink) — HMSO