Transcript Highlights:

• For harvest for food, should they be banned as well?
• related to food policy in the state to strengthen local food networks and producer-to-consumer access
• localized efforts including a Tulsa Food Policy Council in the Oklahoma City food hub.
• For those who may wonder, what is a food council?
• The idea that more people could eat food or grow their own food is absolutely necessary.

Bills: SB2108, SB2121, SB2171, SB2061, SB2112, SB2138

Keywords: feral swine, nuisance control, wildlife management, hunting permits, agriculture, cultivated meat, food safety, public health, misbranding, advertising, food labeling, food distribution, state regulations, hunting licenses, fishing licenses, veterans, controlled hunts, deer population, wildlife conservation, food policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:19.679><c> by</c> our food our local food production by our food our local food production
• Basket, Inc., Hoy Food Hawaii, and Hawaii Islands Food Bankani.
• </c><00:29:48.720><c> Hawaii</c> Food Basket, Inc., Hoy food Hawaii Food Basket, Inc., Hoy food Hawaii
• hubs, creating food hubs or supporting food banks.
• c> hubs</c> there or food hubs creating food hubs there or food hubs creating food hubs hubs<00:34:53.679

Bills: HB1952, HB1951, HB1929, HB2497, HB2208, HB2572, HB1737, HB1953, HB2551, HB2549

Keywords: HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, House Bill 2121, prohibiting the sale, distribution of any disposable electronic smoking devices

Bills: SB2421, SB2690, SB3103, SB3137, SB3164, SB3206, SB2933, SB3133, SB3315

Keywords: cannabis, marijuana, Hawaii Cannabis Law, legalization, decriminalization, adult use, hemp, taxation, social equity, public health, primary care, health insurance, health carrier, insurance commissioner, Med-QUEST, Medicaid managed care, provider reimbursement, downcoding, prior authorization, utilization review

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related bills. HB 1864, which would require health insurance coverage for standard fertility preservation services for people undergoing medically necessary treatment, drew broad support from SHIPA, the Department of Health, HMSA, the Hawaii Association of Health Plans, and others. Testifiers emphasized that fertility preservation is routine coverage on the mainland and important for patients facing infertility from cancer or other treatment; one patient described incurring more than $20,000 in costs. The Insurance Division flagged possible Affordable Care Act issues, a potential conflict in the bill’s language about using patient history to determine limits, and a mismatch with state medical-necessity standards. Committee discussion also focused on whether the bill should apply to all women of childbearing age rather than a narrower age-based category. HB 2305 would require nutrition and metabolic education as part of physicians’ continuing medical education. The Hawaii Medical Board opposed the measure, arguing that CME should remain flexible and tailored to each physician’s specialty and warning that topic-specific mandates can expand over time. The Office of the Governor supported the bill, saying it would help the state’s rural health transformation application and could improve federal funding prospects, though the exact impact was unclear. Members questioned whether nutrition is already covered in medical training and whether the requirement should be limited to primary care physicians; the board said Hawaii currently has no topic-specific CME mandates and that physicians can already choose relevant courses. The committee also heard strong support for HB 1597, which would establish an Alzheimer’s disease research center at the University of Hawaii. Supporters from the university, the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, and others said the center could attract federal research dollars, expand clinical trials, and help address the state’s high Alzheimer’s-related health costs. HB 2159, which appropriates funds for health care workforce development, also received broad support from the University of Hawaii, health systems, and advocacy groups, with no opposition noted. Finally, HB 2121, which would prohibit the sale and distribution of disposable electronic smoking devices, drew support from the Department of Health, youth advocates, and public health groups citing youth addiction, environmental waste, and fire hazards; the department said a separate bill, HB 1573, would be more comprehensive and better defined for enforcement and penalties. The committee ended with HB 1913, creating a veteran services mental health coordinator position at Tripler Army Medical Center, which was supported by veteran services officials and others who said veterans need better navigation and coordination for behavioral health care.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> Health's authority to regulate food, Health's authority to regulate food, drugs,<00:50:02.960><
• ><c> and</c> food-related statutory material and food-related statutory material and aligns<00:50:07.560
• ><c> all</c><00:50:07.760><c> food-related</c><00:50:08.360><c> provisions</c><00:50:09.000><c> under
• </c> aligns all food-related provisions under aligns all food-related provisions under chapter<00:50:
• </c> immediately deposited into the food immediately deposited into the food safety<01:47:01.440><c>

Bills: SB2960, SB2347, SB2272, SB3137, SB3132, SB2271, SB2804, SB2175, SB2487

Keywords: homeowners insurance, disaster recovery, replacement cost value, state of emergency, policyholder rights, insurance extensions, tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, SB2272, Act 105, home health licensing, home health agency, home health services, Department of Health, DOH, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions and one bill focused on energy reliability, utility infrastructure, insurance, tenant rights, and home health licensing. On the energy side, members heard HCR 203/HR 193 on a status update for the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, HCR 204/HR 194 on a comprehensive PUC analysis of cost reduction and risk, and HCR 202/HR 192 creating a legislative task force on future energy pathways. Testimony on the energy measures was generally supportive from the PUC, DCCA’s Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with OHA urging that equity, native Hawaiian impacts, and public trust resources be considered alongside cost savings. The committee also heard HCR 125/HR 117 on coordinating with utilities to address aging utility poles and lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk corridors; Hawaiian Electric supported the measure, Hawaiian Telcom and Charter Spectrum said much of the work is already underway and questioned whether the resolution was necessary, and committee questioning focused on existing double-pole tracking and the role of DOT and the PUC. The committee then took up HCR 137/HR 129 on timely reimbursement of health care claims under the clean claims statute. The DCCA Insurance Division and the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the measure as drafted, saying it could be read to require payment beyond policy limits and could raise premiums or reduce market participation. United Policyholders supported the measure, arguing it would simply give policyholders more time to collect benefits they already purchased, and clarified that it was not intended to increase coverage beyond policy limits. The committee later amended the resolution to direct the DCCA Insurance Division to prioritize investigation and enforcement of clean claims complaints. In the decision meeting, the committee recommended and adopted passage of HCR 203/HR 193 as is, HCR 204/HR 194 with an amendment removing the eighth whereas clause, HCR 202/HR 192 with an amendment adding a committee representative to the task force, HCR 125/HR 117 as is, and HCR 137/HR 129 with amendments. The committee also heard SB 2960 SC1 on property insurance, which would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to document replacement-cost claims. The Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed it, warning it could force coverage beyond policy limits and increase premiums, while United Policyholders supported it and said it would help disaster survivors recover benefits they already paid for; members questioned whether similar laws in other states had caused premium spikes and clarified that the bill was not intended to exceed policy limits. The committee also heard SB 2347 SD1 on multilingual tenant-rights notices, with OHA, Hawaii Appleseed, and others supporting the bill but urging restoration of language requiring landlords to directly provide the notice at lease signing. Finally, SB 2272 SD1 HD1 on home health licensing drew support from the Department of Health, SHPDA, and the Health Care Association of Hawaii, with the association requesting an effective date amendment; testimony explained that the bill would allow state licensing compliance to be demonstrated through CMS-approved accreditation or certification surveys, potentially reducing duplication and freeing state resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:46.000><c> Uh</c> providing food for hungry motans. Uh providing food for hungry motans.
• </c> um other nonprofits that that have food um other nonprofits that that have food distribution<00:
• </c> need to be um the furnishing of food need to be um the furnishing of food &gt;&gt; represent.
• ><c> to</c> do food distribution in addition to do food distribution in addition to other<00:21:23.520
• the</c> food being distributed in the food being distributed in the performance<00:21:52.080><c> of<

Bills: HF238, HF3381, HF3754, HF1049

Keywords: microenterprise home kitchen operation, cottage food, home-based food business, home kitchen license, homemade food, prepared food, food entrepreneur, small food business, cottage food law, food safety training, ServSafe, food handler license, agriculture department, Minnesota food law, residential kitchen, local zoning, consumer labeling, allergen labeling, unpasteurized juice, time/temperature control for safety food

Transcript Highlights:

• Page one, a person 18 years of age or over who violates the Controlled Substances Act by distributing
• Any person who is at least 18 years of age or who violates the Controlled Substances Act by distributing
• </c> something with with the uh distribution something with with the uh distribution of<00:01:42.479>
• </c> substances act by distributing substances act by distributing distributing<00:02:13.920><c> methamphetamine
• </c><00:02:14.879><c> or</c> distributing methamphetamine or distributing methamphetamine or controlled

Bills: SF0009

Keywords: fentanyl, controlled substances, minors, drug distribution, enhanced penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said that at the point of distribution from the food bank to the food shelf, a lot of good things
• The food bank sends out a truckload of food every month, and the food shelves only pay the cost of distribution
• the monthly distribution from the food bank.
• </c> in Baiji by conducting two mobile food in Baiji by conducting two mobile food distributions<01:09
• :01.120><c> of</c><01:20:01.280><c> food</c> distributed 2.5 million pounds of food distributed 2.5 million

Bills: HF45, HF1148, HF3624, HF3586, HF777

Keywords: HF45, Lake Benton, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Public Facilities Authority, public infrastructure, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, utility replacement, U.S. Highway 75, road reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, local government grant, Minnesota bonding, capital appropriation, food insecurity, prepared meals

Transcript Highlights:

• It could be food, it could be economics, for many things.
• It could be food, it could be economics, for many things.
• deserts where access to food is an issue in regard.
• So this just gives them a broad, as to food is an issue in regard.
• individuals can come get some food for their families.

Bills: HR3, HR80, HB4, HB172, HB189, HB623, HB944, HB1185, HB1199, HB1222, SB105, SB125, SB461

Keywords: housing assistance, state-owned property, cost-burdened, state employees, affordable housing, fiscal audit, higher education, public funds, underrepresented minorities, Board of Regents, Louisiana legislation, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, airport authority, fire protection, supplemental pay, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been a game changer for many of our members in getting good, fresh, healthy food into our food
• 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.
• We are one of the largest food banks in the country, and with food shelf visits across Minnesota having
• 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:

• Madam Chair, I move that the Rural Economic Development Committee rules, as printed and distributed,
• the sum of $9,500,000 from the State General Fund in fiscal year 2027 to the State Treasurer to distribute
• 2066 appropriates $8 million from the General Fund in fiscal year 2027 to the State Treasurer for distribution
• the sum of $15,500,000 from the State General Fund in fiscal year 2027 to the State Treasurer to distribute
• willing to work with me on the— instead of workforce hub, that sounds like a center to kind of distribute

Bills: HB2065, HB2066, HB2071, HB2106, HB2237, HB2258

Keywords: appropriation, housing, Apache Junction, affordable housing, rehabilitation, blight abatement, broadband, fiber optic, technology, connectivity, infrastructure, rural development, workforce hub, health services, transportation tax, county excise tax, regional transportation authority, public transportation authority fund, regional transportation fund, ADOT

Transcript Highlights:

• <c> uh</c><00:03:04.879><c> uh</c> we see uh food distribution and uh uh uh we see uh food distribution
• With one in five households in Minnesota struggling to afford food, the need for food banks and food
• The Minnesota food banks work together to source food.
• ><c> food.
• </c> in the food bank world and with food in the food bank world and with food shelf<00:26:40.159><c>

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:

• Line 218 is for the local food purchasing assistance program.
• Seven is for the good food access program. Clause 8 is for co-op development grants.
• Seven is for the good food access egg.
• for food shelves.
• It creates a local food purchasing grant program.

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:

• source and distribute most of the food available at food shelves as well as food distribution programs
• source and distribute most of the food available at food shelves as well as food distribution programs
• source and distribute most of the food available at food shelves as well as food distribution programs
• source and distribute most of the food available at food shelves as well as food distribution programs
• </c> emergency food distribution system. emergency food distribution system.

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:

• And food transparency. We've all seen it.
• I'm with Good Food Fighter.
• The term food ingredient is Broad.
• Actually the back page gives you your list, food allergies, food dyes, fragrances mold.
• Food safety and protecting the integrity of the food supply is the number one priority of food and beverage

Bills: SB 25, SB 314

Keywords: nutrition, health standards, food labeling, education, dietary guidelines, medical education, food safety, school meals, child nutrition, food additives, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill just mainly prohibits the cell manufacturing, distribution of cell cultured food products, and
• they want those foods.
• They launched the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which is very similar situated to the Healthy Food
• But Whole Foods.
• the most expensive food.

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:

• The bill just mainly prohibits the cell manufacturing, distribution of cell cultured food products, and
• And then, so what we're prohibiting is the manufacturing, sale, or distributing... Or distributing.
• We already have the Healthy Food Retail Act, but what we do not have is a strong definition for food
• they want those foods.
• the most expensive food.

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:

• No, so it's actually not in any food that's currently being used in any scale.
• The Healthy Food Retail Act was initiated post-Katrina and it was designed.
• And I just wanted to say we do feel that the ...work on food deserts is important.
• Some of our food banks don't cover that area.
• And again, it's just to map it out and also defines what a food desert is.

Bills: HCR77, HB81, HB512, HB663, HB717, HB1194

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2B program, H-2A program, labor shortage, temporary workers, Louisiana economy, HCR77, crawfish industry, H-2B visa, seasonal labor, agriculture, immigration, arborist, property disputes, tree trimming, neighborhood, landowner rights, Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District, board of commissioners

Bills: HB375, HB494, HB375

Keywords: pistol permits, Jefferson County, fees, public schools, fund distribution, tax collector, tax assessor, compensation, salary increase, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• flexibility 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?
• I don't see a This food from someone who made it under the auspices of this program.
• The food that our kids eat in school is less than desirable.

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:

• Rochelle Harris, committee staff, said that Senate Bill 5994 extends timber tax revenue distributions
• definition of tobacco products, exempts any Washington taxable income attributed to wholesale sales of food
• and food ingredients sold by wholesalers to retailers not under common ownership from the B&O 0.5% surcharge
• and food ingredients sold by wholesalers to retailers not under common ownership from the B&O 0.5% surcharge
• The way that the timber tax revenue is distributed across the property tax formula, if a school district

Bills: SB5994, SB6244

Keywords: timber tax, school funding, levy failure, tax distribution, education funding, tax exemption, agriculture, hazardous substances, crop protection, warehousing, 904, all