HB 2548 Hawaii House · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS.

HB 2548 creates the Climate-Resilient Food Systems Grant Program within the state Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. The bill appropriates state funds to provide grants to farmers, food businesses, and community organizations for projects that help farms and food systems withstand climate impacts (like extreme weather). Key provisions include establishing application guidelines and prioritizing projects that improve soil health, water efficiency, or local food distribution networks. This program directly supports agricultural operations and food supply chains seeking to adapt to climate challenges. The bill is currently in committee referral stages and has not yet been voted on.

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Mar 30, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

HB2548_HD1 → HB2548_SD1 · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended from its House version to the Senate version, primarily updating administrative metadata such as author names, revision numbers, and template identifiers. The most significant substantive change is the correction of the bill's effective date from the year 3000 to 2050, ensuring the Climate-resilient Food Systems Grant Program becomes active in a realistic timeframe.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on establishing a grant program for climate-resilient food systems, but the applicability is now set to begin in 2050 instead of the erroneous year 3000.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 3000, to July 1, 2050, correcting a likely clerical error that would have delayed the program indefinitely.

TECHNICAL

Administrative details including the bill author's name, revision numbers, and template identifiers were updated to reflect the Senate version of the document.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 30, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.

upper

Mar 30, 2026

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3225) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Mar 23, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in AEN were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Gabbard, Richards, Rhoads, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) DeCoite.

upper

Mar 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 03-23-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 218).

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso, Sayama excused (2). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Feb 18, 2026

Committee

Reported from AGR/EEP (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 383-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on EEP recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Lowen, Perruso, Chun, Kusch, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Quinlan.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Chun, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Matsumoto; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Quinlan.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to AGR/EEP, FIN, referral sheet 7

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to AGR, EEP, FIN, referral sheet 6

lower

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced and Pass First Reading.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors