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House Agriculture committee advances three agriculture resolutions, including food-manufacturing study and rangeland recognition
Summary
The House Agriculture and Food Systems Committee advanced HCR 31/HR 31 (recognizing the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists), HCR 94 HD1/HR 86 HD1 (farmer-to-institution coordination aligned with the Aina Kitchen Network), and HCR 24/HR 23 (study on food manufacturing), with HCR 24 passing with amendments to require DBEDT to submit policy recommendations 20 days before the 2027 Legislature.
The House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems on April 8 took up several pro-agriculture measures and moved them forward.
The committee voted to advance HCR 31 and HR 31, resolutions recognizing 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists in Hawaii. Testimony came from Brian Miyamoto of the Hawaii Farm Bureau, who said the Farm Bureau "will stand on our written testimony in support of these two resolutions" and praised the move to acknowledge rangelands and pastoralists.
Members next considered HCR 94 HD1 and HR 86 HD1, which urge the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to develop a farmer-to-institution coordination plan aligned with the Aina Kitchen Network. Brian Miyamoto again indicated written testimony in support and no opposition was recorded; the committee recommended passage of HCR 94 HD1 and HR 86 HD1 unamended.
On HCR 24 and HR 23 — a study asking the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to examine Hawaii's food-manufacturing strengths and strategic markets — the committee received written support and took amendments. Members agreed to add language requiring DBEDT to submit proposed policy recommendations 20 days prior to the 2027 Legislature and made technical edits for clarity, then voted to pass the measures with amendments.
Committee clerks recorded votes as adopted for the measures. The clerk noted Representative Quinlan was excused for the HCR 94/HR 86 and HCR 24/HR 23 decision votes. No opposition was recorded on the measures during the hearing.
What changed: HCR 24/HR 23 will move forward with instructions that DBEDT propose policy recommendations in advance of the 2027 legislative session; HCR 31/HR 31 and HCR 94/HR 86 were advanced as recommended.
Next steps: The measures will be transmitted following House rules for further legislative consideration and any required departmental follow-up or reports.
