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Senate education committee advances bill to clarify local food purchase goals for schools
Summary
The Senate Committee on Education voted to pass House Bill 110, HD1, which clarifies local food purchase goals for public schools and sets a longer implementation timeframe; testimony from the Department of Education, Department of Agriculture and farm‑to‑school advocates emphasized the 30 percent target and implementation challenges.
The Senate Committee on Education voted to pass House Bill 110, House Draft 1, with amendments on March 17, 2025, sending the measure forward with a deferred effective date. The bill seeks to clarify the Department of Education's local food purchase goals for school meals and related procurement processes.
Supporters told the committee that the bill aligns state efforts to increase purchases of locally produced food. "We stand on our written testimony providing comments on this measure," said Dean Uchida, deputy superintendent of the Department of Education, when testifying in support. Representatives from the Department of Agriculture and farm‑to‑school groups also voiced support.
The bill drew testimony from multiple state agencies and community groups. Nathan Murata, Dean at the University of Hawaii College of Education, did not testify on this measure but later participated in the day's joint Higher Education hearing. Witnesses on HB 110 included Matthew Lope from the Department of Agriculture and representatives from the Hawaii Public Health Institute and Hawaii Farm to School Network, who said the measure aligns with prior acts and helps make the 30 percent local‑purchase goal achievable.
Committee members asked questions about how the department would hit the locally sourced target, timelines for vendor lists and USDA approvals, and how pilot procurement methods have worked. Testimony described current small purchase authority (used for pilots and limited purchases) with a $25,000 cap and discussed the USDA approvals required for reimbursable products; witnesses said some products (for example, poi) must receive USDA ingredient approval before being listed on vendor contracts used by the DOE.
After discussion, the committee carried a motion to pass HB 110, HD1 with amendments and to defer the bill's effective date. The recommendation was adopted in the committee roll call with five members voting aye.
The committee's action advances the bill to the next legislative stage; the amended and deferred language will be reflected in the committee's report and in any subsequent conference drafting.
Votes at a glance: In committee action recorded at the hearing, five members present voted aye on HB 110, HD1 for the committee recommendation to pass with amendments.
