H.B. 619 Summary

• Establishes an income tax credit for qualified farms that donate eligible food products or prepared foods to food banks and food pantries located in Hawaii.

• Eligible food products include fresh farmed plant products for human consumption, including indigenous Hawaiian crops; prepared foods consist of no more than two ingredients with primary ingredient being indigenous Hawaiian farmed plants (such as poi, cooked kalo, or breadfruit).

• Tax credit equals a percentage of the wholesale value of donated food (specific percentage not filled in), with individual farm cap and annual statewide cap of $600,000 per taxable year, administered on first-come, first-served basis.

• Department of Agriculture establishes valuation standards, maintains donation records, verifies donations, and certifies credit amounts; Department of Taxation prepares required forms and may audit certifications.

• Appropriates funds for fiscal years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 to administer the certification process; applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2022, and sunsets June 30, 2026.