RELATING TO PLANT-BASED FOOD AND DRINKS.

SB2113

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2113

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO PLANT-BASED FOOD
AND DRINKS
.

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 2021, the State became the first state to declare a
climate emergency.
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In a press release on
December 8, 2023, the United Nations Environment Programme reported that
"[t]he animal agriculture industry is a major driver of climate
change," accounting for up to twenty per cent of global greenhouse gas
emissions.

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The
legislature further finds that jurisdictions that have adopted
plant-based-by-default policies have reported significant reductions in their
negative impacts to climate change.
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Accordingly, the State can more efficiently respond to climate change
and the climate emergency by reducing governmental preferences for animal-based
food and drinks and by establishing plant-based food and drinks as the default
choices at state-operated prisons, state-licensed hospitals, and
government-sponsored events.

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The
legislature believes that a plant-based-by-default policy for state-operated
prisons, state-licensed hospitals, and government-sponsored events provides
many additional benefits to the State, including:

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(1)
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Significant savings of taxpayer money;

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(2)
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The promotion of traditional Hawaiian
environmental, dietary, and cultural practices;

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(3)
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The advancement of public health,
including reduction in dietary risk factors for diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and cancer; and

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(4)
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An increase in the demand for and
consumption of local fruits and vegetables, which supports economic
opportunities for farmers throughout the State.

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Accordingly,
the purpose of this Act is to establish a plant-based-by-default policy for state-operated
prisons, state‑licensed hospitals, and government-sponsored events.

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SECTION 2.
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Chapter 353, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section
to part I to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

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"
�353-
�

Food and drinks for committed persons; plant‑based-by-default
program.
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(a)
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The director shall
establish a plant-based-by-default program for committed persons' food and
drinks.

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(b)
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Under the program, the department shall offer
committed persons only plant-based food products by default; provided that any
committed person may opt out of the default options.

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(c)
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The director shall adopt rules in accordance
with chapter 91 to implement this section.

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(d)

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The director shall submit annual reports
on the program's results to the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation
commission.

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(e)
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As used in this section, "plant-based
food products" means food and drinks that do not contain meat, poultry,
fish, dairy, eggs, or other animal products or byproducts.
"

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SECTION

3
.
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Section 26-6,
Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (b) to read as
follows:

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"
(b)
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The department shall:

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(1)
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Preaudit and conduct
after-the-fact audits of the financial accounts of all state departments to
determine the legality of expenditures and the accuracy of accounts;

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(2)
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Report to the governor and
to each regular session of the legislature as to the finances of each
department of the State;

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(3)
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Administer the state risk
management program;

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(4)
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Establish and manage motor
pools;

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(5)
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Manage the preservation and
disposal of all records of the State;

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(6)
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Undertake the program of
centralized engineering and office leasing services, including operation and
maintenance and lease buyback processing pursuant to subsection (d) of public
buildings, for departments of the State;

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(7)
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Undertake the functions of
the state surveyor;

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(8)
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Establish accounting and
internal control systems;

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(9)
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Have the discretion to
employ persons within the comptroller's office who shall be exempt from
chapters 76 and 89 in support of communications, change management, and
business process improvement programs as part of the State's information
technology modernization efforts; provided that the persons shall be members of
the state employees' retirement system and shall be eligible to receive the
benefits of any state employee benefit program generally applicable to officers
and employees of the State;

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(10)
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Provide
centralized computer information management and processing services through the
chief information officer;

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(11)
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Establish
a program to provide a means for public access to public information and
develop an information network for state government;

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(12)
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Assume
administrative responsibility for the office of information practices; [
and
]

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(13)
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Approve
state fleet acquisitions; provided that:

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(A)
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Beginning January 1, 2022, all new
light-duty motor vehicles that are passenger cars purchased for the State's
fleet shall be zero-emission vehicles;

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(B)
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Beginning as soon as practicable but no
later than January 1, 2030, all new light-duty motor vehicles that are
multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks for the State's fleet shall be zero‑emission
vehicles; and

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(C)
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The comptroller may authorize an
exemption for new fleet vehicle purchases if zero-emission vehicles are
demonstrated to be cost-prohibitive on a lifecycle basis or unsuitable for the
vehicles' planned purpose, or if funds are unavailable[
.
]
; and

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(14)
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Establish a plant-based-by-default
program for government-sponsored events.
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Under the program, attendees at
government-sponsored events shall be offered only plant-based food products by
default; provided that any attendee may opt out of the default options.
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The comptroller shall submit annual reports on
the program's results to the Hawaii climate change mitigation and adaptation
commission.
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The department shall adopt
rules in accordance with chapter 91 to implement the program.

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For
the purposes of this subsection:

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"Government-sponsored
event" means a gathering at a facility under the management and control of
any state department during which food and drinks are offered to attendees.

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"Light-duty
motor vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in title 10 Code of Federal
Regulations part 490.

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"Multipurpose
passenger vehicle" has the same meaning as defined in title 49 Code of
Federal Regulations section 571.3.

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"Passenger
car" has the same meaning as defined in title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations section 571.3.

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"Plant-based
food products" means food and drinks that do not contain meat, poultry,
fish, dairy, eggs, or other animal products or byproducts.

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"Truck"
has the same meaning as defined in title 49 Code of Federal Regulations section
571.3.

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"Zero-emission
vehicle" has the same meaning as specified in title 40 Code of Federal
Regulations section 88.1."

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SECTION
4
.
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Section 321-14.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is
amended to read as follows:

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"
�321-14.5
�
Hospitals; licensing.
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(a)
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All
hospitals shall be licensed by the department to ensure the health, safety, and
welfare of the individuals placed therein.

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(b)
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The
director shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91 that shall provide for
the licensing of hospitals.

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(
c)
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The rules may provide that accreditation by The
Joint Commission demonstrates a hospital's compliance with all licensing inspections
required by the State.
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The rules may exempt
a hospital from a licensing inspection on a continuing basis throughout the term
of the accreditation under the following conditions:

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(1)
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The hospital provides the department with
a certified copy of the hospital's official accreditation report from The Joint
Commission;

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(2)
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The hospital continuously holds full accreditation
by The Joint Commission; and

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(3)
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The hospital holds a current and valid state
license.

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(d)
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The
rules shall provide that the department may conduct inspections and investigations
of exempt hospitals to investigate complaints, follow up on adverse accreditation
findings, or conduct periodic validation surveys.

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(e)
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Information contained in reports of survey and
official accreditation letters made by The Joint Commission used in determining
compliance with licensing requirements shall be public information.

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(f)
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All
other records maintained by the department shall be governed by chapter 92F.

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(g)

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The rules shall provide that each
hospital shall establish a plant-based-by-default program for patients' food
and drinks.
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Under the program, each
hospital shall offer patients only plant-based food products by default;
provided that any patient may opt out of the default options.
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As used in this subsection, "plant-based
food products" means food and drinks that do not contain meat, poultry,
fish, dairy, eggs, or other animal products or byproducts.
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The director of health shall submit annual
reports on the program's results to the Hawaii climate change mitigation and
adaptation commission.
"

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SECTION 5.
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Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
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New statutory material is underscored.

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SECTION 6.
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This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DCR;
DAGS; DOH; Plant-Based-By-Default Program; Reports

Description:

Requires the
Departments of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Accounting and General Services,
and Health to establish a Plant-Based-By-Default Program for food and drinks
offered at state-operated prisons, state-licensed hospitals, and government-sponsored
events.
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Requires annual reports to the
Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission.
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The summary description
of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is
not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.