HI HR185

Requests the Department of Education to convene a Farm-to-School and Local Food Procurement Working Group to address findings from Auditor's Report No. 26-08 on Hawaii's local food procurement initiatives.

Hawaii has a statutory benchmark requiring at least 10% of food served in public schools be locally sourced, but the audit identified systemic challenges including lack of a comprehensive strategic plan, limited coordination with local producers, and inadequate data collection.

The Working Group would include up to 17 members representing school food services, the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, agricultural producers, food distributors, school principals, cafeteria managers, nutrition professionals, nonprofit organizations, and one legislator from each chamber.

The Working Group is tasked with developing strategies to improve local food data reporting, identify procurement practices supporting local purchases, strengthen coordination with Hawaii's agricultural sector, and recommend administrative or legislative actions.

The Department of Education must submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days before the Regular Session of 2027 summarizing the Working Group's findings and recommendations.