SB 249 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

Summary

Clarifies certain benchmark goals and timeline for the Department of Education to provide locally-sourced agricultural and food products. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Feb 13, 2025

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What changed between versions

SB249 → SB249_SD1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates local food purchasing requirements for several state departments, including the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Corrections, Department of Defense, and University of Hawaii system. It establishes a consistent timeline for increasing local food procurement across all departments while exempting the Department of Education from these general requirements, as it has its own separate goals under existing law. The bill also extends the effective date of the entire act to July 1, 2050.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of local food purchasing requirements to include the Department of Education's exemption from the general benchmarks, while maintaining separate, higher targets for the Department of Education under its own statute.

REQUIREMENT

Establishes specific percentage targets for local food purchases: 10% by 2025, 18% by 2030, 26% by 2035, 34% by 2040, 42% by 2045, and 50% by 2050 for most state departments.

Adds the University of Hawaii system to the list of departments required to meet local food purchasing benchmarks alongside the Department of Education, Department of Health, Department of Corrections, and Department of Defense.

EXEMPTIONS

Exempts the Department of Education from the general local food purchasing requirements, keeping it subject to its own separate benchmark goals under Section 302A-405.6(a).

TIMELINE

Changes the effective date of the entire act from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2050, aligning with the final target year for local food procurement goals.

Floor votes

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No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Reported from EDU (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 432) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in EDU were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Kidani, Kim, Hashimoto, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Kanuha.

upper

Feb 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on EDU has scheduled a public hearing on 02-10-25 3:02PM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to EDU, WAM.

upper

Jan 15, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

5 primary · 0 co-sponsors