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HB1450
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. NO.
1450
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025
STATE OF HAWAII
A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating
to agricultural climate resiliency
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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SECTION
1.
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The legislature finds that in 2024,
the department of agriculture launched a statewide "Go B.I.G. (Buy,
Invest, Grow) for Agriculture" initiative to encourage buying local
products, invest in the State's agricultural development, and grow the scale of
agricultural operations in the State.
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As
part of the initiative, agricultural producers were surveyed to identify the
agricultural industry's top challenges.
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Based on the data collected, the high cost of equipment poses a major
barrier to agricultural growth.
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The
legislature further finds that agricultural producers require capital to purchase
technology and other equipment necessary for their operations.
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The legislature believes that by investing in
the agricultural supply chain, the State can increase local food production,
enhance climate resilience, improve food security, and support the economic
growth of small- to mid-sized farms.
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The
purpose of this Act is to:
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(1)
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Establish a three-year climate-resilient food
systems grant pilot program; and
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(2)
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Appropriate funds for the pilot program.
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SECTION
2.
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(a)
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There is established a three-year climate-resilient food systems grant
pilot program, which shall be administered by the department of agriculture.
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(b)
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The climate-resilient food systems grant
pilot program shall provide grants to agricultural producers in the State, in
an amount ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, for the acquisition of
special-purpose equipment, technology, and ancillary costs.
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(c)
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Grants shall be awarded on a competitive
basis through a request for applications, in compliance with rules adopted
pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and chapter 103D, Hawaii
Revised Statutes.
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(d)
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Grant proposals shall be submitted to the
department of agriculture in accordance with administrative rules adopted by
the department to administer the grant program.
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Each request shall, at a minimum, state:
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(1)
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The name of the
farmer or rancher requesting grant funds;
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(2)
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That the applicant
is engaged in expanding production capacity of the applicant's agricultural or
value-added products; and
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(3)
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How the applicant intends to use the grant for
projects that demonstrate a significant impact on local agriculture production
and enhance the economic viability of small family farms or ranches.
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(e)
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Each applicant for a grant shall provide proof that the applicant:
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(1)
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Has United States
citizenship or permanent United States resident alien status and is a resident
or domiciliary of the State at the time of application;
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(2)
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Grows or produces raw or
processed agricultural products on a small family farm or ranch in the State at
the time of the application;
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(3)
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Complies with all
other federal, state, or county statutes, rules, or ordinances necessary to
conduct the activities or provide the services for which a grant is awarded,
including the United States Food and Drug Administration Food Safety
Modernization Act, P.L. 111-353, and that Act's provisions on supplier
verification;
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(4)
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Complies with all
applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination against a person
on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex, age, sexual
orientation, or disability;
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(5)
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Agrees not to use
state funds for travel, conferences, entertainment, perquisites, or lobbying
activities;
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(6)
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Allows the
department, legislative committees and their staff, and the auditor full access
to the applicant's records, reports, files, and other related documents and
information for the purposes of monitoring, measuring the effectiveness of, and
ensuring the proper expenditure of the grant;
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(7)
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Agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
State and any of its officers, agents, and employees from and against any and
all claims arising out of or resulting from activities carried out or projects
undertaken with funds provided by this Act, and procure sufficient insurance to
provide this indemnification if requested to do so by the department of
agriculture;
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(8)
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Satisfies any
other standards that may be required by the source of funding; and
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(9)
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Meets all other
standards prescribed in rules adopted by the department to implement the grants
awarded under this section.
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(f)
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No grant shall be awarded under this Act
unless the applicant matches up to twenty per cent of the total project costs.
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(g)
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For the purposes of this Act, "small
family farm or ranch" means any farm or ranch where the majority of the
business is owned by the producer and individuals related to the producer and
with a gross cash farm or ranch income of less than $350,000 per year.
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(h)
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The climate-resilient food systems grant
pilot program shall terminate on June 30, 2028.
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SECTION 3.
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(a)
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The department of agriculture shall submit interim reports to the
legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular
sessions of 2026 and 2027.
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The interims
reports shall include:
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(1)
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The department's progress on the
implementation of this Act;
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(2)
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Preliminary results of the climate-resilient
food systems grant pilot program, including the number of grants awarded each
year; and
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(3)
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Any findings and recommendations, including
any proposed legislation.
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(b)
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The department of agriculture shall submit a
final report of its administrative activities, expenditures, findings, and
recommendations, including any proposed legislation, no later than twenty days
prior to the convening of the regular session of 2028.
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The report shall include the outcomes of the climate-resilient
food systems grant pilot program and a recommendation as to whether the program
should be made permanent, with or without modifications.
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SECTION
4.
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There is appropriated out of the
general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $3,000,000 or so much
thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
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The sums
appropriated shall be expended by the
department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
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SECTION 5.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.
INTRODUCED BY:
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Report Title:
Climate-resilient
Food Systems Grant Pilot Program; Reports; Appropriation
Description:
Establishes
a three-year climate-resilient food systems grant pilot program, to be
administered by the Department of Agriculture.
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Requires reports to the Legislature.
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Appropriates funds.
The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.