Relating To Sustainable Food Systems.
HB967 establishes a new statewide interagency food systems coordination team and an interagency food systems working group within the Department of Agriculture. The bill is aimed at improving Hawaii’s food system by coordinating state agencies and other stakeholders around goals such as increasing local food production, improving access to healthy food, reducing food insecurity, minimizing food waste, and strengthening climate resilience and disaster preparedness.
The working group would be co-chaired by the chair of the Board of Agriculture and the director of business, economic development, and tourism, and would include representatives from the Legislature, the Department of Education, Department of Health, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and the Agribusiness Development Corporation. It would develop governance and operating protocols, coordinate with county and community food planning efforts, identify resources, create implementation plans and performance measures, and use policy impact analysis tools to evaluate proposed actions. The group would also report to the Legislature before each regular session, including any recommended legislation.
The bill also appropriates general funds for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to support additional staff and the operation of the coordination team and working group, including stakeholder coordination, public meetings, and information management. In practical terms, it would add a formal interagency structure and dedicated funding to support statewide food systems planning within existing state government.
The general sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of coordinated action, with the findings emphasizing persistent food insecurity, barriers to local production, and the need for a more resilient and equitable food system. There is no recorded committee testimony or vote history in the provided material, so no direct opposition or support from legislators or the public is available. The main point of potential contention is likely the need for new appropriations and staffing, as well as whether another interagency body will produce measurable results beyond existing food policy efforts.
HB967 would amend state administrative practice by creating two new structures inside the Department of Agriculture: a statewide interagency food systems coordination team and an interagency food systems working group. It does not appear to change substantive food, agriculture, or procurement statutes directly, but it would require state agencies to coordinate on food system planning, reporting, and implementation, and it would authorize spending from general revenues to support those functions. The bill would affect the Department of Agriculture, other participating agencies, the Legislature through required annual reporting, and stakeholders involved in local food production, procurement, food security, and emergency preparedness.
The bill’s tone and findings indicate broad policy support for strengthening Hawaii’s food system through coordination, planning, and investment. It frames the issue as urgent because of high food insecurity, limited household emergency preparedness, and ongoing barriers to local production. No committee transcripts or votes were provided, so there is no documented debate in the record here; however, the bill’s structure suggests a consensus-oriented approach focused on collaboration rather than regulation.
The most likely areas of contention are fiscal and administrative. The bill creates new positions or staffing support and appropriates general funds, which may raise questions about cost, duplication of existing efforts, and whether the new team and working group will have enough authority to produce concrete outcomes. Another possible point of debate is the breadth of membership and coordination responsibilities, since the bill brings together multiple agencies and outside participants, which could be seen either as necessary collaboration or as an added layer of bureaucracy. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided materials.