REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONVENE A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXISTING STATE LAWS IN ADDRESSING THE FALSE LABELING OF HAWAII-MADE FOOD PRODUCTS, WITH A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON THE LEGAL MECHANISMS AND COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROTECTING THE BRANDS OF HAWAII-MADE FOOD PRODUCTS.

This Senate Resolution asks the Department of the Attorney General to study how well current Hawaii laws protect local food producers from false labeling claims. The study will examine specific statutes regarding unfair competition, product labeling, and false advertising to see if they effectively stop non-Hawaii goods from being marketed as locally made. The Attorney General is required to review the legal costs and processes involved in these cases and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Legislature by early 2025. This measure does not change any laws immediately but instead initiates an official review to determine if new legislation is needed to better safeguard Hawaii-made food brands.