Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Environment

Oh, hi, everybody. Welcome to the joint hearing between government operations, our friends, agriculture environment, Thursday, April 16, 2026, 3PM, Conference Room 225.

This meeting being streamed live on YouTube, unlikely event we have to abruptly end this hearing due to technical difficulties. We'll reconvene and a public notice will be posted on the legislature's website.

We normally do a two minute limit on testimony, but don't think that's necessary. So net first up, only item agenda HC 144, House Draft 2, asking Department of Agriculture to collaborate with state and county agencies and community based organizations to develop a

comprehensive statewide food strategy. First up testifying in support is the Department of Ag and Biosecurity. Not here in person, but in support. We have DBED with comments that actually read more like opposition because of existing efforts. Next up is Kanalani Ohana Farm.

They're in support. Farm Bureau in support. Ag Stewardship Hawaii in support. And Lauren Zirbel for Hawaii Food Industry Association in support. Nobody here oh, Lauren, are you on Zoom?

Not present, chair. Okay. So we have received a testimony. However, it is written and it is in the record, so the public can view it there to know that the support for the resolution is there. So that's all we have.

Is there anybody in the audience wishing to testify? Seeing none, questions, members of the person who's hanging out? No. Okay. If not, we'll go right in the decision making.

The recommendation of this committee is given the testimony is we wanna keep this resolution going the way it is drafted. So the recommendation will be for HCR 144. House Draft 2 is to go ahead and go as is. Okay.

We're gonna take a brief recess, and then we will return to finish the recommendation.

Welcome back, everybody. To go ahead and continue recommendation, given the work of the House, we wanna respect it and continue to work with them on it. So recommendation, HCR 144 House Draft 2 is as is. Questions, comments? If not, Vice Chair as is, I vote yes.

[Roll Call] That's in favor.

And for AEN, we're gonna have to roll decision making as we do not have quorum. So we'll roll decision making to tomorrow, Friday, April 17 at 03:10PM in CR 224. And measures adopted.

Yeah. Measures are not on GVO's side.

Yeah. On GVO's side.

Yeah. Okay. With the measure being adopted on GVO's side and with the notice, time certain, we will adjourn the hearing.