Transcript Highlights:

• Program for the local food purchasing assistance grants, which allows food shelves and food hubs to purchase
• Local small producers aren't able to access the funds.
• able to purchase the raw food and... ...be able to meet this requirement.
• I made comments a couple of weeks ago about how important it is for us to have farm-to-food programs
• They have to certify that none of the board members or staff with the authority to access grant funds

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• helpful to see who is accessing these loans.
• </c> to see who is accessing these loans. to see who is accessing these loans.
• and to purchase or food food shelves and and food<00:04:25.919><c> hubs</c><00:04:26.240><c> to</c><
• to provide that food and whether schools are able to purchase the raw food and be able to meet this requirement
• </c> is for us to have uh farm for food is for us to have uh farm for food programs<00:14:03.680><c>

Bills: HF2784, HF2785, HF2778, HF2281, HF2576, HF2280, HF2579

Keywords: beginning farmers, agriculture, loans, economic opportunity, farmers' equity, agriculture appropriations, farm to school, early care, child care food program, school lunch program, local food, Minnesota agriculture, food access, farm-to-institution, limited market access, county fairs, biofuels, E25, ethanol, meat processing

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will allow local food entrepreneurs to expand their businesses in new ways, and it will provide
• increased options for consumers to purchase healthy, locally produced food in our state.
• I have not considered whether this could be used to provide food to schools.
• Is there appetite for possibly going forward working with this bill to maybe increase access to fresh
• , yes, I agree that we want the food that our kids are being served in school to be as healthy as possibly

Bills: HB3056, HB3391, HB3657, HB3617, HB4055, HB3720, HB3902

Keywords: raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising, animal welfare, commercial pet breeders, licensing, animal cruelty, labor, employment definitions, agricultural services, Oklahoma Workforce Commission, confidentiality, data access, right to repair, agriculture, OEM, repair providers

Summary: The committee took up several agriculture-related bills, many with committee substitutes and amendments. HB 356, dealing with raw, unpasteurized milk, was amended to limit sales for off-premise consumption and to provide liability protection for producers; members discussed whether restaurants should also receive protection and whether consumers should be notified, and the bill passed 4-2. HB 3391, requiring commercial pet breeders to include their state license number in advertisements and authorizing Agriculture Department rules and fines, passed 6-0. HB 3657, an Oklahoma Employment Security Commission request bill updating agricultural labor reporting language and allowing workforce data sharing with the Workforce Commission, passed 4-3 after questions about the type of data shared and a tie vote was broken by a member voting in the affirmative. HB 3617, a right-to-repair bill for agricultural equipment, was amended to correct wording and to protect intellectual property, trade secrets, and warranties, but members questioned its scope and application date; it passed 5-1. HB 4055, the Breeding Animals Responsibly and with Care Act, was heavily amended to remove a section changing licensing thresholds and to set minimum fines, but it drew extensive questions about the new fund, inspection hours, fiscal impact, and whether it would burden the Department of Agriculture or consumers; it failed 3-4. HB 3902, a bill aimed at addressing pet overpopulation and allowing counties to act, prompted concerns about county zoning, sheriff workload, and unfunded mandates; the authors said they would continue working on the issue and strike the title later, and the bill passed 4-3 despite requests to lay it over.

Transcript Highlights:

• flexibility to producers in where and how they produce their local food.
• to producers in where and how they produce their local food.
• I have not considered whether this could be used to provide food to schools.
• I don't see a... used to provide food to schools?
• For possibly going forward working with this bill to maybe increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables

Bills: HB3056, HB3391, HB3657, HB3617, HB4055, HB3720, HB3902

Keywords: raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising, animal welfare, commercial pet breeders, licensing, animal cruelty, labor, employment definitions, agricultural services, Oklahoma Workforce Commission, confidentiality, data access, right to repair, agriculture, OEM, repair providers

Transcript Highlights:

• The Minnesota Food Banks work together to source food.
• Farm to Food Shelf is one of the things that makes me proud to be a food banker.
• In Minnesota, where the state produces so much food, we use funding to buy that food to give it to folks
• The Farm to Food Shelf Program has been a mainstay for numerous years, helping provide us with access
• to highly desired foods.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• are to help more farmers gain access to land and be able to farm.
• the state that produces so much food uses funding to buy that food to give it to folks who, despite
• I urge you to support the Farm to Food Shelf program.
• ><c> the</c> food to give it to folks who despite the food to give it to folks who despite the being<
• Food Shelf program has been a mainstay for numerous years that has helped provide us with access to

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Seven is for the good food access program. Clause 8 is for co-op development grants.
• Seven is for the good food access program. Clause 8 is for co-op development grants.
• Seven is for the good food access program. Clause 8 is for co-op development grants.
• Seven is for the good food access program. Clause 8 is for co-op development grants.
• Seven is for the good food access egg.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• cat overpopulation statewide by expanding access to affordable spay and neuter services.
• cat overpopulation in communities statewide by expanding access to affordable spay and neuter services
• To date, approximately $1 million has been awarded to 28 organizations across New Mexico, expanding access
• Our focus is responsible stewardship of these funds and expanding access to affordable spay and neuter
• services. ...and expanding access to affordable spay and neuter services for historically underserved

Bills: HB25, SB38, SB101, HB199

Keywords: juvenile delinquency, firearm possession, criminal background checks, state law, gun control, youth offense, conviction, public safety, SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 3302 SD1 HD1 relates to homemade food products.
• </c> relating to homemade food products. relating to homemade food products.
• But, if you don't want to move this along with a pet food, um, please include the amendments to at least
• But, if you don't want to move food.
• </c><01:13:48.960><c> data</c> access to all relevant financial data access to all relevant financial

Bills: SB3302, SB2061, SB2050, SB2102, SB2694, SB2089, SB847

Keywords: SB3302, homemade food products, farm kitchens, home kitchens, Department of Health, DOH, food safety, food labeling, value-added agriculture, small farms, agricultural land, commercial food establishment permit, cottage food, direct-to-consumer sales, local food systems, Hawaii Revised Statutes, chapter 91, farm-to-table, food processing, public health regulation

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on April 9, 2026, and heard testimony on several measures. SB 3302 SD1 HD1, dealing with homemade food products, would require the Department of Health to adopt rules for farm kitchens producing homemade food products that are no more stringent than rules for home kitchens. The Department of Health said it supported the bill with technical amendments, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association and Grassroot Institute of Hawaii also supported it. No opposition was heard. A lengthy discussion focused on SB 2061 SD2 HD1, which concerns a 99-year leasehold residential condominium project and HCDA’s rules for sales, income restrictions, and buyback pricing. HCDA supported the bill and said the House draft clarified unclear provisions and would help move the project to pre-sales. Testimony and committee questions centered on whether the project should remain owner-occupied in perpetuity or allow investor purchases after an initial sales period. HCDA explained that the bill was revised to make the project feasible in the market, that 60% of units would be income-restricted for buyers at or below 140% of area median income, and that the remaining units could be sold without owner-occupancy restrictions. Some members and testifiers expressed concern that the bill had shifted away from the original owner-occupancy vision and could become an investment property model, while others argued the changes were necessary for the project to pencil out and compete with fee-simple developments. No vote was taken during the discussion shown. The committee also heard SB 2050 SD1 HD1, which would allow chiropractic students in accredited programs to engage in clinical practice beginning July 1, 2028. The Hawaii Board of Chiropractic and the Hawaii State Chiropractic Association supported the measure, and one testifier described personal experience with student chiropractic care in California. Members questioned why the board requested delaying implementation until 2030, and the board said it needed more time to develop rules because it meets only a few times a year and rulemaking is lengthy. Finally, SB 2102 SD2 HD1, on industrial hemp in commercial feed, was introduced; the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity offered comments, the Department of Health raised concerns about regulating pet food and possible jurisdictional conflict, and a farmer testifying in support suggested narrowing the bill to federally approved livestock feed rather than pet food.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh we still need to to functional zero.
• We'll ask nonpartisan to come to Bliss.
• Section 1 of Article 2 is from Representative Ray Rrower's House File 1662, which grants access to the
• Section 1 of Article 2 is from Representative Ray Rrower's House File 1662, which grants access to the
• Uh, thanks to you and to Chair you.

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the department had been looking to increase fees in a couple of areas, including food handler
• He said the DFL side noted cuts to farm-to-school programs at the federal level and to the local food
• to people, buying directly from farmers, farm to food, that the benefit we got there to help reduce
• </c> providing food to people uh buying providing food to people uh buying directly<00:31:41.919><c>
• <c> food</c><00:31:44.399><c> uh</c> directly from farmers farm to food uh directly from farmers farm

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• to people, buying directly from farmers, farm to food, that the benefit we got there to help reduce
• </c> providing food to people uh buying providing food to people uh buying directly<00:34:51.679><c>
• <c> food</c><00:34:54.079><c> uh</c> directly from farmers farm to food uh directly from farmers farm
• to food uh that<00:34:54.560><c> the</c><00:34:54.800><c> benefit</c><00:34:55.040><c> we</c><00:34:
• </c><00:52:54.800><c> to</c><00:52:55.040><c> the</c> 1662 which grants access to the 1662 which grants

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet with the completion of a credential and access to new career opportunities, many move up to income
• get to the other side of the city, or where there's food insecurity, where there's... ...you have to
• of transportation when it comes to trying to figure out food and security and trying to get to a place
• And then you have to walk 60 minutes to the nearest place where you can buy food.
• Access to health and mental health services as needed.

Bills: S3022, H5187

Keywords: ENOUGH Act, ENOUGH fund, anti-poverty, poverty reduction, community development, place-based grants, distressed neighborhoods, economic mobility, housing and livable communities, community schools, cradle-to-career, child poverty, intergenerational poverty, social services, workforce development, education equity, public health, behavioral health, mental health, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, members, SB1864 aims to increase access to the graded egg market for small-scale producers
• The bill simply gives them access to new local market channels.
• And so I really appreciate ...any opportunity that we have as a legislature to deregulate foods, especially
• see ways within this industry and others that we can get food directly to the consumer more readily
• Pictures of screwworms—we'll talk about that later—but the threat to our food supply is there.

Bills: SB1864

Keywords: eggs, ungraded eggs, egg grading, poultry, farm products, local food, small farmers, direct-to-consumer sales, wholesale food sales, food safety, refrigeration requirements, sanitation standards, occupational license, dealer-wholesaler license, Texas Department of Agriculture, restaurants, small grocery stores, cooperatives, farmers cooperative, agricultural regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• access to the fresh and healthy food that they need to thrive.
• access to the fresh and healthy food that they need to thrive.
• access to the fresh and healthy food that they need to thrive.
• access to the fresh and healthy food that they need to thrive.
• access to the fresh and healthy food that they need to thrive.

Bills: HF2078, HF777, HF841, HF1112, HF1098, HF1926

Keywords: child care, day care, child care center, licensing, license requirements, parent access, guardian access, custody order, court order, furnishings, equipment standards, learning materials, early childhood education, infant care, toddler care, preschool, school-age child care, play materials, sensory materials, gross motor equipment

Transcript Highlights:

• access to developing opportunities?
• We are not getting it in Minnesota for people who need access to food, especially locally grown food,
• </c><00:24:45.919><c> $4.6</c> food programs to help favor $4.6 food programs to help favor $4.6 trillion
• </c> need access to food and especially need access to food and especially locally<00:25:39.440><c> grown
• some of the DFL efforts to fund urban ag and good food access, Forever Green.

Bills: HF1704, HF2052

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• 4,000 residents gaining access to healthy foods.
• So when we're accessing and recreating opportunities for people to get healthy and nutritional foods,
• These businesses, to put them in those correct places, to ensure those citizens have access to their
• And our budget shoppers, if you will, and those who maybe need access more to the healthy food are directed
• And our budget shoppers, if you will, and those who maybe need access more to the healthy food are directed

Bills: HCR65, HB512, HB1194, SCR23, SB502

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2A program, seasonal workforce, Louisiana economy, Healthy Food Retail Act, food access, food deserts, economic opportunity, public health, Louisiana agriculture, community development, fresh food, agriculture, national security, food production, supply chain, security task force, farm labor, Chinese investments

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which would create an Agricultural-based National Security Priorities Task Force to study issues such as Chinese drones, farmland ownership, and other technology-related concerns that could affect farmers and national security. Senator Kathy Stewart said the goal was to avoid unintended consequences in legislation and to bring agriculture stakeholders together. The resolution was moved favorably with no objections. The committee then took up Senate Bill 502 on sugarcane bagasse storage. Supporters, including the sponsor, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the American Sugar Cane League, said the bill would clarify that bagasse is an agricultural byproduct and would protect storage practices that comply with department best practices from local ordinances. Several residents from St. Martin Parish testified in opposition, saying a large bagasse pile near their homes was out of compliance, created dust and odors, and caused health and property-value concerns. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably with no objections. House Bill 512, by Representative Schamerhorn, would prohibit the manufacturing and sale of cell-cultured food products in Louisiana while allowing university research to continue. An amendment was adopted to make the bill effective only if certain federal court rulings allow such a ban. The sponsor and Commissioner Strain argued the issue is still scientifically uncertain and that the state should avoid costly litigation; the bill was reported favorably with amendments after no objections. House Bill 1194, the Healthy Food Retail Act, was amended to shift food-desert research and mapping duties to the LSU AgCenter, while the financing authority would continue handling grants and related funding mechanisms. Supporters said the bill would improve data on food deserts and help target grocery access in underserved urban and rural areas; some members raised concerns about government subsidies and long-term dependence, but the sponsor and Commissioner Strain said the program is intended as infrastructure support to launch stores, not ongoing operating aid. After debate, the bill was reported favorably with amendments by a 10-3 roll call vote. The committee also reported favorably House Concurrent Resolution 65, which urges federal action to reclassify crawfish-industry job duties as agricultural labor for H-2A purposes; testimony emphasized labor shortages, the impact on crawfish and rice producers, and the need for more legal guest workers. The meeting ended with a brief informational handout on direct marketing and custom slaughter plants and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• 4,000 residents gaining access to healthy foods.
• So when we're accessing and recreating opportunities for people to get healthy and nutritional foods,
• These businesses, to put them in those correct places, to ensure those citizens have access to their
• And our budget shoppers, if you will, and those who maybe need access more to the healthy food are directed
• And our budget shoppers, if you will, and those who maybe need access more to the healthy food are directed

Bills: HCR65, HB512, HB1194, SCR23, SB502

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2A program, seasonal workforce, Louisiana economy, Healthy Food Retail Act, food access, food deserts, economic opportunity, public health, Louisiana agriculture, community development, fresh food, agriculture, national security, food production, supply chain, security task force, farm labor, Chinese investments

Transcript Highlights:

• In the unlikely event we have to abruptly end this hearing due to technical difficulties, we'll reconvene
• and community-based organizations to develop a comprehensive statewide food strategy.
• </c><00:01:22.160><c> Industry</c> Lauren Zirbel for Hawaii Food Industry Lauren Zirbel for Hawaii Food
• We're going to take a brief recess and then we will return to finish the recommendation.
• Given the work of the House, we want to respect it and continue to work with them on it.

Bills: HCR144

Keywords: food security, Hawaii, agriculture, community organizations, nutritional access, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Government Operations and Agriculture and Environment hearing on April 16, 2020 considered only HCR 144, House Draft 2, which asks the Department of Agriculture to work with state and county agencies and community-based organizations to develop a comprehensive statewide food strategy. Testimony was generally supportive: the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity supported the measure, as did Kanaloani Ohana Farm, the Farm Bureau, Ag Stewardship Hawaii, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association. DBEDT submitted comments that were described as sounding more like opposition, citing existing efforts. No members of the public appeared to testify, and there were no questions from members. The Government Operations committee recommended the resolution pass as drafted, and members present voted aye. Because the Agriculture and Environment committee lacked quorum, its decision-making was rolled over to the next day, Friday, April 17, 2020 at 3:10 p.m. in CR 224. The chair noted that the measure had been adopted on the GVO side and, with the noticed time certain for the remaining committee action, the hearing was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hawkins to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr.
• creating a report. on the impact of seed banks and seed preservation on access to food, environmental
• food shortages.
• and tools to maintain food security. to be a part of population growth.
• to close.

Bills: HB5085

Keywords: seed banks, food access, environment, biodiversity, agriculture policy, 1184, house, all