HI HB2176

Directs the Legislative Reference Bureau to study how other states regulate grocery price gouging and submit findings with policy recommendations to the legislature by 20 days before the 2027 regular session

Requires analysis comparing Hawaii grocery prices to national prices over the past decade

Mandates identification of contributing factors to grocery price gouging in Hawaii

Cites Hawaii's per capita food cost at $5,507 annually, with average monthly grocery expenses of $459 per person or $1,836 for a family of four

Notes Hawaii residents pay among the highest costs in the nation, with average personal consumption expenditures of $58,115 per year, due to reliance on imported goods and limited local agriculture production