RELATING TO FOOD HUBS.

SB3222

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3222

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating
to food hubs
.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

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SECTION 1.
�
Act 313,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, is amended by amending section 2 to read as
follows:

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"
SECTION
2.
�
(a)
�

There is established a five-year food hub pilot program, which shall be
administered by the department of agriculture[
.
]
and biosecurity.

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(b)
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The food hub pilot program shall:

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(1)
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Adopt
the United States Department of Agriculture's working definition of "food
hub", which means "a centrally located facility with a business
management structure facilitating the aggregation, storage, processing,
distribution, and/or marketing of locally/regionally produced food
products"; and

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(2)
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Award
grant funding to qualified applicants for the construction of critical
infrastructure to establish and expand food hubs in each of the counties,
including:

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(A)
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Construction
or improvement of facilities for aggregation, washing, minimal processing,
packaging, cold storage, and other value‑additions; and

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(B)
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Provision
of technical assistance to develop in‑state capacity to supply state
institutions and other markets.

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(c)
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The department of agriculture
and biosecurity
shall establish
criteria for the award of initial start-up grant funding or subsequent
expansion funding under the food hub pilot program, including the following
provisions:

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(1)
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Priority
shall be given to organizations having demonstrated experience in aggregation,
washing, minimal processing, packaging, cold storage, and other value-additions
for delivering local produce to local markets;

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(2)
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Qualifying
applicants shall include corporations, limited liability companies,
partnerships, sole proprietorships, non-profit organizations, and agricultural
cooperatives that meet necessary insurance requirements and provide a
certificate of vendor compliance with Hawaii compliance express;

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(3)
�
Applicants
seeking to establish a new food hub where none currently exist shall first
secure a physical location for the food hub and draft a detailed plan for the
food hub's operation, including activities in which the applicant intends to
engage, such as serving as a marketplace for buying and selling, or providing
certified kitchen space in which multiple farmers may share use of facilities
for value-added product development; and

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(4)
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Applicants
shall explain their intended actions to increase access to locally produced
food.

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(d)
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The department of agriculture
and
biosecurity
shall require that the receipt of grant funding pursuant to the
food hub pilot program be conditioned upon the recipient's compliance with all
applicable state and federal food safety laws, rules, and regulations,
including the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, P.L. 111-353, and that Act's
provisions on supplier verification[
.
]
; provided that certification
under the groupGAP food safety certification program established by the United
States Department of Agriculture shall qualify a recipient for grant funding.

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(e)
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The department of agriculture
and biosecurity
shall adopt
rules pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the administration
and operation of the food hub pilot program.

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(f)
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The food hub pilot program under this section
shall terminate on June 30, 2027."

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SECTION 2.
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There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii
the sum of $ or so
much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the continued
implementation of the food hub pilot program established pursuant to Act 313,
Session Laws of Hawaii 2022.

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The sum appropriated shall be expended by
the department of agriculture and biosecurity for the purposes of this Act.

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SECTION 3.
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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 4.
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This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

DAB;
Agriculture; Food Hub Pilot Program; Appropriation

Description:

Amends
Act 313, SLH 2022, to authorize the use of the GroupGAP Food Safety Certification
Program established by the United States Department of Agriculture to qualify a
recipient for grant funding under the Food Hub Pilot Program.
�
Appropriates funds.

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