Bill Crossover Updates + Action Alerts for Good Food & Ag Bills

Thank you for taking action this legislative session to support good food and agriculture policy in Hawaiʻi! 

We are at that time in the legislative session when the House and Senate bills that are still alive have crossed over from the chamber where they originated. Here is a quick update on what bills are still alive and which bills have been deferred. 

Which Bills Are Still Alive?

Needs Testimony Today:

SB512 SD2: Foodbucks/SNAP Double Bux

  • Status: Testimony due TODAY! Bill scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Health, Human Services & Homelessness on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 @ 9 AM. 

  • What it Does: Removes the $10 per visit per day cap on the dollar-for-dollar match received by supplemental nutrition assistance program beneficiaries under the Hawaiʻi Healthy Food Incentive Program, also known as the Double Up Food Bucks Program. Specifies that healthy proteins are eligible purchases under the program. 

  • Talking Points:

    • It puts more food on the table for local families in need 

    • It provides incentives that encourage people to buy locally grown/produced food 

    • It strengthens the local economy by keeping money within the community 

    • It improves local health by providing incentives to eat fresher, unprocessed foods 

Bills Awaiting a Hearing in the House Agriculture Committee:

Please respectfully contact House Agriculture Chair Rep. Hashem to request a hearing for the following bills:

  • SB337 SD2: Cover Crop Reimbursement Pilot Program 

    • Status: Awaiting a hearing in the House Agriculture Committee

    • What it Does: Establishes a cover crop reimbursement pilot program to provide up to 75% cost reimbursement to farming operations in Hawaiʻi for acquiring cover crop seeds, green manure, or compost.

  • SB341 SD2 - Tax incentive for Kalo Farmers 

    • Status: Needs a hearing in the House Agriculture Committee

    • What it Does: Establishes an exclusion from the state income tax for an unspecified portion of a person's income derived from the business of taro cultivation or production of taro products.

Awaiting a Hearing the House Committee on Finance:

  • SB338 SD2: Food Hubs 

    • Status: Awaiting a hearing in the House Finance Committee

    • What it Does: Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish a 5-year food hub pilot program to increase access to local food. Provides for the award of grant funding to qualified applicants wishing to establish or expand a food hub. 

Bills awaiting a Hearing in Senate Committees on Education (EDU)/Agriculture and the Environment (AEN) or Ways and Means (WAM):

  • HB702 HD2: Farm to School 

    • Status: Awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committees on Education / Agriculture and Environment (EDU/AEN)

    • What it Does: Requires the Department of Education to establish rules for the procurement of goods and services related to the administration of food programs at public schools that incorporate a geographic preference for unprocessed locally grown and locally raised food products.

  • HB767 HD2: Farm to School 

    • Status: Awaiting a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee (WAM)

    • What it Does: Moves the Hawaiʻi Farm to School Program from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. Establishes a programmatic goal for the Department of Education that at least 30% of food served in public schools shall consist of locally sourced products by 2030.

Bills Likely to Be Deferred

HB1271: Dissolving the ADC 

  • Status: Not likely to be heard. Senate leadership does not appear supportive of dissolving the ADC or amending the bill to reform the agency.

  • What it Does: Dissolves the Agribusiness Development Corporation and transfers all lands and staff, except for the Executive Director, James Nakatani, to the Department of Agriculture.

Deferred Bills

  • SB335: ADC Reform Bill 

    • Status: Deferred by the House Committee on Agriculture

    • What it Does: Requires the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Development Corporation to annually lease at least 50% of land leased or up for lease renewal to operations whose primary business is, or supports, local food production beginning 1/1/2022. Requires the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Agribusiness Development Corporation to submit reports to the Legislature on leasing activities. Requires the Agribusiness Development Corporation and its board of directors to implement by 1/1/2023 the recommendations in the Hawaiʻi State Auditor’s report.

  • SB499: Increased Fines for Pesticide Violations

    • Status: Deferred by Senate Committee on Agriculture and the Environment

    • What it Does: Increases administrative and criminal penalties for those who violate pesticide law. 

  • SB719: Safe Pesticide Disposal and Increased Fines for Pesticide Violations 

    • Status: Deferred by Senate Committee on Ways and Means

    • What it Does: Requires the Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Health, to develop and implement a one-time pesticide disposal collection program, for a duration to be determined by the department. Requires the Department of Agriculture to convene a steering committee to guide and monitor the pesticide disposal collection program. Increases the civil and criminal penalties for violating the Hawaiʻi pesticides law.

  • HB443: Farm to School 

    • Status: Deferred by House Committee on Agriculture 

    • What it Does: Requires the Department of Education to conduct a comprehensive cost analysis of the department's food services and student meals programs to, in part, increase the use of locally grown agricultural products.

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