SB 3162 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO STRATEGIC FOOD RESERVES.

Summary

Establishes the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity. Establishes purchasing requirements for crops stored at a strategic food reserve. Establishes the Strategic Food Reserves Advisory Committee. Establishes the Agricultural Market Development Grant Program. Establishes the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program Special Fund. Requires DAB and the Strategic Food Reserves Advisory Committee to submit annual reports to the Legislature, respectively. Establishes a timeline for DAB's implementation of the Hawaii Strategic Food Reserves Program. Appropriates funds. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Last action Feb 20, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

SB3162 → SB3162_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was converted from a Senate version to a Senate Draft 1 version, primarily updating metadata, formatting, and specific terminology to consistently refer to the 'Hawaii' strategic food reserves program. The most significant substantive change is the effective date, which was moved from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050, likely to allow for a longer planning horizon before implementation begins.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing a strategic food reserve system in Hawaii, but the applicability timeline has been significantly extended by over two decades.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the Act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2050, delaying the start of the program by more than 20 years.

DEFINITION

References to the 'strategic food reserves program' were updated to 'Hawaii strategic food reserves program' throughout the text for consistency.

REQUIREMENT

The composition of the Strategic Food Reserves Advisory Committee was updated to specify that certain members are to be invited by the chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity rather than appointed directly.

New detailed requirements were added for grant applicants, including mandates for licensing, detailed project plans, non-discrimination compliance, and indemnification of the state.

The definition of 'priority crops' was slightly modified to remove the explicit mention of 'cultivation in the State' from the list of criteria, though the intent remains similar.

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

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Committee

Reported from AEN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 2488) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.

upper

Feb 13, 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

Feb 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on AEN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-13-26 3:10PM; CR 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to AEN, WAM.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors