House Standing Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems

Good morning and welcome to- wait. Where my should go? To this morning's, Agriculture and Food systems hearing. We're here in Conference Room 325, the State Capital and today is 04/17/2026, 10:30am agenda. Thank you to everyone who is here in person and on Zoom.

My name is Matthias Kush. I'm the Vice chair of the committee, and I'll be running today's committee hearing.

Ground rules. Because morning hearings must adjourn prior to a floor session, not all testifiers may have the opportunity to testify. In that event, please know your written testimony will be considered by the committee.

In order to allow us as many people to testify as possible, there will be a two minute time limit per testifier. And for those on Zoom, please keep yourself muted on the video and the video off while waiting to testify and after your testimony is complete. The zoom chat function will allow you to chat with the technical staff only. Please use the chat for technical issues.

If you are disconnected unexpectedly, you may attempt to rejoin the meeting If disconnected while presenting testimony, be allowed to continue if time permits.

And please note that the house is not responsible for any bad Internet connections on the testifier's end. In the event of a network failure, it may be necessary to reschedule a hearing or schedule a meeting for decision making. In that case, an appropriate notice will be posted. And please avoid any trademark or copyrighted image if you're using Zoom in the background. Please refrain from any profanity or uncivil behavior.

Such behavior may be grounds for removal from the hearing without the ability to rejoin. Finally, we have a new microphone system in the house conference rooms and microphones are now in the ceiling, so please be aware that any side conversations may be picked up. Maybe. That'll be the last time we say that.

First on our agenda. We have SCR 120.

Urgent estate to consider the importance of rangelands and brass store analysts and adopt policies that further sustain rangeland health and pastoralists livelihoods. And first up, we have Mia Hunter, Maui County Department of Agriculture on Zoom.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, and members of the committee. My name is Maya Hunter, with Maui County no worries. Next time. Yeah. With Maui County Department of Ag.

And, we are providing supportive testimony of SCR 120 recognizing that rangelands deliver essential environmental community and aesthetic benefits across Hawaii, and that SCR 120 supports those people who actively steward these lands, pastoralists, and ranchers whose work sustains open space, natural resources, and local agriculture. So mahalo for the opportunity to testify, and I will be on for any questions.

Thank you. Next, we have Nicole Galase from Hawaii Cattlemen's Council in support on Zoom.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. This is Nicole Galase testifying on behalf of the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council. We are in strong support of this bill, this resolution that was submitted because it is very important to have management on the land. There are I I'm I'm outside right now because we actually have a rainfall simulator here that we're doing with we have about 20 middle school students here, and, they're talking right now.

So I might not be able to show it to you, but what it is is that we are showing, the effects of well managed grain line well managed grazing lands.

And what I can see is that water infiltration is clear. Runoff is almost nonexistent because the grass holds the water on the land. Compared to areas that are either overgrazed or just impacted by humans, there's a lot

of runoff that goes, and it's too compacted for water to infiltrate through the soil. And so when we think about all of the weather events that we've been happening that have been happening, a lot of this can

be mitigated by well managed trench lands. So we ask for the state to support the ability for ranchers across the state to continue doing what they're doing, managing the land while also producing food at the same time. Mahalo.

Thank you. That's all the testifiers we have listed. Is there anybody who would like to testify in person? Any others on Zoom? Okay.

Seeing none, we had 13 in support, zero opposition, zero with comments. Members, any questions? Seeing none, we're gonna move on to SCR 71, urging this body to introduce and pass legislation to establish strict liability for individuals who keep, harbor, or feed certain animals in a manner that results in damage to property. First up, we have Brett Mossman, DLNR, with comments on Zoom.

Aloha, Vice Chair Kusch and members of the committee. I just wanna thank you for giving us time to present on this issue. And I'd like to just direct you folks to our testimony, and then just broadly, we'd like to offer a possible alternative. The department could recommend potentially adding feral chickens to the injurious species list, which would just be an interior a department rule rather than require any legislative action.

And that designation would enable landowners and other authorized individuals to manage and control feral chicken populations on their property using lawful methods.

And with that, I'm also available for any questions that you folks may have.

Thank you. Next up, we have Stephanie Kendrick from Hawaii Humane Society in real Zoom. Yes. Thanks for coming.

Aloha, Chair Chun, Vice Chair Kusch, and members of the Committee on Agriculture and Food System. Stephanie Kendrick with the Hawaiian Humane Society. You have our our testimony and strong opposition of this measure. And I understand that this resolution is symbolic, but symbols matter. And this approach is an approach that has been taken session after session, and it is thankfully failed session after session because it punishes compassion.

It does not punish the root causes of these issues. Hawaiian humane is very concerned about abandoned animals on the landscape. When those populations include pet animals, we are actively working on humane solutions to try and reduce those populations, and we would urge this committee to reject this old mindset in favor of working with stakeholders to come up with humane, compassionate, effective solutions to address these populations. This measure wouldn't punish the abandonment. It wouldn't punish cruelty.

It only punishes people who are trying to help, and that is not the approach we need to be taking to these issues. I'm available for questions. Thank you. Appreciate that.

Next up, we have Brian Burns, Trooper's Chicken Rescue in opposition, in person.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. My name is Brian Burns. I'm president and founder of Trooper's Chicken Rescue. First, I wanna take a moment to sincerely thank chairman Chun. You're the only member of this body who responded to my direct outreach.

I appreciate your willingness to meet and have a real conversation about solutions. That level of leadership matters. Unfortunately, that has not been the case, with the rest of the legislature. Troopers Chicken Rescue has made every effort to partner with the state. We have reached out.

We have offered solutions, and we have built a growing network of volunteers ready to help. But those efforts have largely gone unanswered. Instead of partnership, SER 71 moves forward with framework that targets wrong people and ignores the root cause. The resolution focuses on feeding and harboring, but that is not what is driving this crisis. What is driving it is something far more serious and far more disturbing.

On this island, we are seeing the normalization of animal torture, especially among teenage boys. Chickens are being used, abused, and discarded in ways that most people would not believe unless they saw it themselves. And we see it every single day. We see birds burned, mutilated, tied up, abandoned, used as bait, and left to suffer slow, painful deaths. This is not theoretical.

This is not rare. This is happening right now in our communities every single day. And yet, this measure does nothing to address it. Instead, it places liability in the very people trying to help. It risk criminalizing compassion while doing nothing to stop cruelty.

SCR 71 assumes that individuals are the problem while ignoring the organized and ongoing abuses fueling this population. We're serious about solving this issue. We need to address root causes, build the infrastructure, and partner with the organizations already doing the work. Trooper's Chicken Rescue is ready to be that part, but we cannot solve this problem alone, and we cannot solve it through punishment of compassion. Respectfully urge you to oppose SER 71 and choose a path that reflects the wise values of Aloha, malama, and real responsibility.

My whole fear is not all.

Thank you. Next up, we have Amanda Little from Kakaako cat feeders. In person. Okay.

Not present. Greg.

Aloha.

Baker in opposition in person. And Greg Gregory, Misakian, individual in opposition on Zoom.

Aloha, Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. My name is Greg Misakian, and my background is on my written testimony. And I work very closely with the the legislators. So you can take a a note of my background. I'll save time not telling you here.

But I fully support not this resolution, but I feel it fully support what the Hawaiian Humane Society just said and also Trooper's Chicken Rescue. They said it eloquently, they said it best. So I'll add to that in my capacity as an individual on a particular day, and it's in my testimony, I was able to save a rooster who had been shot with three pellets, and my understanding it was from someone in the building that I live in, my condominium building where I serve as a director.

And I took an entire day of my life to go rescue that rooster. It was very difficult to access him.

I had to get permission to get onto the property, take him to the Hawaiian Humane Society, who I was told would x-ray him, and unfortunately I have concerns with that. They did not. And I ended up getting him to a rescue, and he had surgery, and he had three pellets removed from his body.

One of them was near his spine, so it left left his feet unable to properly move, and I hope, you know, I followed up from time to time, but I hope that over time he recovered more, but I got very busy with what I do. It's very concerning to me what is going on in the state, and if you read the last part of my written testimony, the chickens were brought here by the Polynesians.

They're supposed to be revered. It's, you know, it's understandable. They wake people up. I get woken up. Address that in a humane way.

This resolution simply, if there's a concern with damage to property, then simply make a person who owns chickens, not feral chickens that just run around, be responsible if you can prove it, just like anything in life, in court. And other than that, let's just I would just pile this resolution. I spoke against the bills. I there's another one that's floating around to put funding in. We need funding for mitigation of wildfires.

We need funding for mitigation for floods. This is the most ridiculous thing I can say I've seen so far in the legislative session. So with that, I appreciate your acknowledgment of all of the opposition. Take a look at the strong opposition, and please pow this. Mahalo.

Thank you. Next up, we have Malia Otto in opposition in person. Not present. Is there anybody here who would like to testify in person? Hey.

Please. State your name and any organization.

Vice Chair, and Vice Chair, and members of the committee. I'm Johnny Kennard. I'm the public defender for the state of Hawaii, but I wanna make it clear that I'm testifying in my personal capacity. In my written testimony, I went over the problems as a lawyer looking at strict liability in civil cases, which is very problematic. And if you notice, the lawyers in the Senate also voted against this resolution as well.

I kinda feel like this is like a last minute hail Mary by, you know, two senators to kinda just put something down so to act as if they did something. But in fact, what this does is it kind of shapes the legislation for next year. Brian Troopers Chicken Rescue, the Humane Society, we're all willing to work with the legislature on developing legislation that is humane, that that takes into account the cultural significance of the of the Amoa or feral chickens.

And, you know, also in in the broad language in this, you don't know how it'll affect the agriculture industry. Farmers also have feral chickens on their land to use for pest control.

Now that means that if a feral chicken wanders off that land, they're strictly liable for any damages. You know, it there's so many broad implications when you have, like, a a resolution like this that has broad language, it becomes uncontrolled. The legislature is free next year to put whatever legislation it wants without having a direction or a shaping or or, you know, kind of pigeonholing it into these measures. So I'm strongly opposed to this, and I'm available for questions. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anybody else who would like to testify? Anybody on Zoom? Okay. I just, in summary, there was five in support, one comment, and a 142 in opposition.

Members, any questions? See. Now we're gonna move on to SCR 164, SD 1, which is prioritizing efforts to protect Hawaii's critical infrastructure from foreign influence. First off, to testify, we have Sherry Pollock from three fifty Hawaii in support on Zoom.

Can you hear me? Yep. Wonderful. Aloha Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. My name is Sherry Pollock, and I'm with three fifty Hawaii.

We stand on our written testimony with strong support for this resolution. The serious consequences from relying on imports, especially for food and energy is a lesson we all should have learned by now. To build immunity against economic instability, natural disasters, or geopolitical events, we must accelerate efforts to eliminate dependence on imported food, energy, and other commodities, and consider the security and resilience of critical infrastructure in all future planning and decision making.

If we prioritize community led renewable locally available energy and food systems, we can build and achieve lasting resilience. We owe this to our keiki and future generations.

Please pass and implement this important measure. Mahalo.

Thank you. Next, we have Dave, Melaney from Greenpeace Hawaii in support on Zoom.

Good morning. Alex here representing Greenpeace Hawaii's thousands of members statewide. I couldn't say it any better. This legislation is a genius, and and we support it and totally support it. Thank you so much for hearing it, and please pass it.

Thank you. Is there anybody here who would like to testify on this measure? Anybody on Zoom? Okay. Seeing none, we are gonna move on to the next one as in summary, there was, three people in support, zero in opposition, and zero with comments on that last measure.

Next up, we have SCR 41 SD 1 requesting, I'm sorry.

Members, any questions? Seeing none, moving on.

SCR41 SD1, requesting certain state and county agencies in coordination with community based organizations to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy.

And first up to testify, we have Lauren Zirbel from Hawaii Food Industry Association in support on Zoom.

Not present.

Is there anybody who would like to testify in person? Anybody in Zoom?

Chair by Zoom.

Oh, okay.

Greg Misakian again, and I just happened to look at this while I was waiting earlier for the other resolution that was discussed. So I will mention my background now and I share this because it's important to the resolution, and I wanna share my concerns, to support the resolution but support some additional things.

So I serve as the President of the Kokua Council which is an elder advocacy organization, but we also support those in need.

I serve as the Vice president of the Hawaii Alliance for Retired Americans. I'm a former Waikiki board member, and I haven't lived in Hawaii that long.

But what I have seen is, you know, concerning to me and what I read in the news every day is concerning to me. And one of those is with the Department of Education with the cost of school meals. And recently there was an article published which the the average cost of a meal is I think in excess of $9. And there's been discussions about how to coordinate the food prep and, you know, a lot of money has been spent.

A lot of money, unfortunately has been wasted, and there's been discussions about locally grown produce and, you know, things of that nature. Well, what we know from what just happened with our rainstorms to the the storm that came in has devastated some farmlands. And, again, that's part of deferred government, deferred maintenance and deferred government that the state's not addressing.

So I would ask this committee, if it's possible. I haven't read every word of this resolution and I do support it. But I would ask to carefully make sure that whatever is done, is done efficiently and effectively and cost effectively. And clearly in this state, what I've recognized every day that I wake up and I read the news and I see the news stories and I participate is that there is so much waste.

We don't wanna waste money on food because when we waste money on food, that's money that could be food that we give to our keiki and our people in need.

So with that said, please take a look at that and I fully support the needs of the many people in Hawaii who need food security. Mahalo.

Thank you. Is there anybody else here in person who would like to testify or on Zoom?

Seeing none. Members, any questions?

Seeing none, we're gonna go straight into decision making. Glad all of you guys could be here for decision making.

First off, we're going to go to SCR 120. Which urges the state to consider the importance of range lands and pastoral lists and adopt policies and further sustained range that health and pastoral lists livelihood. Members, are there any questions? We're gonna move this forward as is. Seeing none, chair for the vote.

Alright. Members are voting on SCR 120. Mission is to pass unamended. Chair and vice chair, both aye. Representative Kahaloa is excused.

Representative Lowen. Aye. Representative Perusso. Aye. Representative Quinlan is excused and Representative Matsumoto. Aye. Resolution is adopted.

Thank you, chair. Next. We're going to SCR 71, which is urging the body to introduce past legislation to establish strict liability for individuals to keep harbor and feed certain animals in a manner that results in damage to property. While recognizing this is a hot issue, and as was mentioned by many testifiers, an issue that's been up before the Legislature for many years, and I recognize where the introducer wanted to go.

But due to the overwhelming opposition and technical issues that were brought up, We're going to defer this measure.

Next up. We have SCR 164 SD 1 prioritizing efforts to protect Hawaii's critical infrastructure from foreign influence. And we're gonna move this forward as is. Members, any questions or comments? Chair for the vote.

Alright. Members, we are voting on SCR 164 SD 1. Recognition is to pass unamended. Noting the excused absences of representatives Kahaloa and Quinlan. Are there any reservations or no's?

Seeing none. Recognition is adopted.

Thank you, Chair.

Lastly, we are going to SCR 41 SD1, requesting certain state and county agencies and coordination with community based organizations to develop a comprehensive statewide food security strategy.

This is similar to another measure and based on the comments we got from agencies and input we received. We are going to amend this bill and take the contents of SCR 144 HD 2, which is a companion to this bill, which was amended previously to make those changes.

And then we're also going to be adding technical non substantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency and style.

Members, are there any questions? comments?

Seeing none, chair for the vote.

All right. Members. We are voting on SCR 41 SD1, recommendation is to pass with amendments. Letting the excuse absences of Representatives Kahalo and Quinlan. Other any reservations or no's?

Seeing none. Chair, recommendation is adopted.

Thank you, Chair and members. This committee is adjourned.