HI HB1525

Amends Section 27-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes to require state departments to submit annual reports to the legislature containing: department progress toward benchmarks, total food cost, total produce purchased as percentage of food cost, fresh local agricultural products purchased as percentage of food cost, and explanation if benchmarks not met.

Amends Section 302A-405.6 to update Department of Education reporting requirements to align with Section 27-8, replacing detailed metrics about meal composition and cafeteria training with standardized reporting on total food costs, produce purchases, and locally sourced product purchases.

Requires both state departments and the Department of Education to report metrics expressed as percentages of total food cost rather than by county breakdown, simplifying comparative reporting.

Provides guidance for implementation of Acts 175 and 176 (2021), which established goals for purchasing locally sourced agricultural products in state procurement and schools.

Takes effect July 1, 2050.