Bills

HB 812: Hawaii Public Procurement Code; Local Produce; Specifications

Session Year: 2025-2026
House: House
Latest Version Date: 2026-03-25

Current Status:

Failed

(2026-03-30: Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Final Decking

Enacted

What does this bill do?

The bill lets state agencies enter contracts of at least five years to buy local produce worth more than $25,000, provided the contract includes a clause to raise or lower the price. It defines “local produce” to include fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, eggs, poultry, livestock and their products, milk, aquaculture/mariculture products, and horticultural products that are 100% grown, raised, and harvested in Hawaii.

Version:

Authorizes a contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $25,000 to be for a term of at least five years, under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

Version:

HB812 SD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	812
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII		S.D. 1

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§103D- Purchases of local produce; specifications. (a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, any contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $25,000 may be for a term of at least five years; provided that the contract shall contain a price adjustment clause to increase or decrease the value.

(b) For the purposes of this section, "local produce" means all fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, eggs, poultry and poultry products, livestock and livestock products, milk and milk products, aquacultural and maricultural products, and horticultural products one hundred per cent grown, raised, and harvested in the State."

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2525.

Report Title:

Hawaii Public Procurement Code; Local Produce; Specifications

Description:

Authorizes a contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $25,000 to be for a term of at least five years, under certain conditions. Effective 1/1/2525. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

HB812 HD1

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	812
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2025		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO AGRICULTURE.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 103D, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part IV to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

SECTION 2. This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

Hawaii Public Procurement Code; Local Produce; Specifications

Description:

Authorizes a contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $25,000 to be for a term of at least five years, under certain conditions. Effective 7/1/3000. (HD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

Date	Status
Mar 30, 2026	Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referred to WAM.
Mar 30, 2026	Reported from GVO (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 3201) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading, as amended (SD 1) and referral to WAM.
Mar 19, 2026	The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in GVO were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) McKelvey, Gabbard, Hashimoto, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Moriwaki.
Mar 17, 2026	The committee(s) on GVO deferred the measure until 03-19-26 3:00PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
Mar 12, 2026	The committee(s) on GVO has scheduled a public hearing on 03-17-26 3:05PM; Conference Room 225 & Videoconference.
Mar 10, 2026	Referred to GVO, WAM.
Mar 6, 2026	Passed First Reading.
Mar 6, 2026	Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 8).
Mar 5, 2026	Passed Third Reading with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Perruso excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.
Mar 5, 2026	Reported from FIN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 785-26), recommending passage on Third Reading.
Feb 25, 2026	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and Excused: none.
Feb 23, 2026	Bill scheduled to be heard by FIN on Wednesday, 02-25-26 2:00PM in House conference room 308 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Dec 8, 2025	Carried over to 2026 Regular Session.
Feb 11, 2025	Passed Second Reading as amended in HD 1 and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Pierick voting no (1) and Representative(s) Cochran, Ward excused (2).
Feb 11, 2025	Reported from AGR (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 392) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.
Feb 7, 2025	The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 5 Ayes: Representative(s) Kahaloa, Kusch, Lowen, Perruso, Quinlan; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Ward.
Feb 5, 2025	Bill scheduled to be heard by AGR on Friday, 02-07-25 9:30AM in House conference room 325 VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE.
Jan 21, 2025	Referred to AGR, FIN, referral sheet 2
Jan 21, 2025	Introduced and Pass First Reading.
Jan 17, 2025	Pending introduction.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Mar 19, 2026	The committee(s) on GVO recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations	4 0 1 Passed
Mar 5, 2026	Third Reading	House Floor	51 0 1 Passed
Feb 25, 2026	The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED	House Standing Committee on Finance	16 0 0 Passed
Feb 7, 2025	The committee on AGR recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS	House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems	5 0 1 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Department of Education	*** Support	Mar 17, 2026
Hawaii Farm Bureau	*** Support	Feb 25, 2026
Hawaii Farmers Union	** Support
Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy	** Support
Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau	*** Support	Mar 17, 2026
State Procurement Office	*** Support	Mar 17, 2026

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 785-26

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2026

RE: H.B. No. 812

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2026

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 812, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize any contract for the purchase of local produce having a value over $25,000 to have a term of at least five years; provided that the contract contains a price adjustment clause to either increase or decrease the value.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Education; State Procurement Office; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

Your Committee notes the concerns raised in testimony requesting that the contracts executed pursuant to this measure include a force majeure clause, given that the farming and ranching industries are especially vulnerable to natural disruptions.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 812, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

CHRIS TODD, Chair

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STAND. COM. REP. NO. 392

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 812

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 812 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require a contract for the purchase of local produce having a value of more than $250 to be for a term of at least five years.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Farmers Union; and Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education and State Procurement Office.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's farmers and ranchers face numerous challenges, including high operational costs, labor shortages, and market instability, which hinder their ability to expand production and invest in infrastructure. Additionally, short-term procurement contracts create further uncertainty, making it difficult for local producers to commit to long-term growth. This measure provides farmers with greater financial stability, promotes crop diversification and livestock expansion, and supports the State's goals of reducing reliance on imports and strengthening local agriculture.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Increasing the minimum contract value threshold from $250 to $25,000;

(2) Authorizing, rather than requiring, the contracts for the purchase of local produce to be for a term of at least five years;

(3) Inserting language that requires the contracts to include a price adjustment clause to increase or decrease the value;

(4) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(5) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 812, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 812, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair

Date	Testimony PDF
Mar 17, 2026	HB812_HD1_TESTIMONY_GVO_03-17-26_.PDF
Feb 25, 2026	HB812_HD1_TESTIMONY_FIN_02-25-26_.PDF
Feb 6, 2025	HB812_TESTIMONY_AGR_02-07-25_.PDF

Discussed in Hearing

1MIN

Authors shown for version:
HB812_SD1 (3/25/2026)

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

HB 812: Hawaii Public Procurement Code; Local Produce; Specifications

Current Status:

What does this bill do?

Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations

Senate Standing Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs

Senate Standing Committee on Government Operations

Senate Standing Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

House Standing Committee on Finance

House Standing Committee on Finance

House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems