Legislative Crossover Update: Good Food & Agriculture Bills
Thank you for taking action this legislative session to support good food and agriculture policy in Hawaiʻi!
We are at that time in the legislative session when the House and Senate bills that are still alive have crossed over from the chamber where they originated. Read below to learn more!
STATUS OF ADC-RELATED BILLS
There are currently two measures aimed at reforming the imperiled agency that have crossed over.
HAPA strongly supports HB2418 HD2, which provides a comprehensive approach to addressing the failures of the ADC.
However, we oppose SB2473 SD2. This measure largely avoids the deeper reforms needed to address the ADC’s failures by simply moving it from under the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT).
WHAT DOES HB2418 HD2 DO?
Provides a comprehensive approach to addressing the failures of the ADC
Amends the mandate of the ADC from a focus on “agribusiness for export” to “utilizing public agricultural lands to enhance the local economy, provide employment opportunities, decrease reliance on imported agricultural products, and provide more sources of locally-grown food for residents” and “to support the production of local agricultural products for local consumption in a manner that is economically and environmentally sustainable”.
Expands the size of the board of directors from 10 to 13 and expands the list of expertise in board members to include “local food production, organic and natural food production, and Native Hawaiian traditional and customary agricultural practices”
Increases board oversight of the Executive Director
Requires that a comprehensive inventory of land holdings and water systems under the purview of the agency is properly accounted for and made public.
Requires the ADC strategic plan (that is required by statute but was never completed) to include an analysis of how the public ag lands under the ADC can support increasing food production for local consumption. It will also set measurable goals and benchmarks for leasing the landholdings for local food production in accordance with the principles of sustainable agriculture. Overall, this will ensure that there are enough small-scale leases to support small farmers and food producers.
Sets specific metrics for the agency to measure its success and progress against.
WHAT DOES SB2473 SD2 DO?
This bill moves the ADC from under the purview of the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), HAPA strongly OPPOSES this provision because It does not make sense to further alienate the ADC from agricultural expertise. While some business expertise should guide the work of the ADC it does not need to be moved to DBEDT to access business acumen. The ADC needs to be more connected to and informed by the needs of our local food producers, not less so.
Amendments in the SD2 do also adjust the mandate of the agency to include more of a focus on food production for local consumption. However, these provisions do not have the same accountability and specificity as the HB 2418 HD2.
The SD2 amendments do increase oversight of the Executive Director, which we agree with.
WHICH GOOD FOOD AND AGRICULTURE BILLS ARE STILL ALIVE?
Good news! There are so many good food and agriculture bills still moving. All of these bills have passed through their assigned committee hearings in the Senate or House and have crossed over to the other chamber. HAPA supports the following measures:
SB2629: Pesticide Disposal Program
SB2974: Changing Advisory Committee on Pesticides
SB2944: Protects Agricultural Lands
HB1768: Kalo Farming Water Access
HB1525: Local Food Procurement
HB1568: Local Food Procurement
Stay tuned for future calls to action on the remaining bills! Together, we can fight for a more just and sustainable Hawaiʻi.
