Bill Text: HI HR157 | 2021 | Regular Session | Introduced

Hawaii House Resolution 157 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Requesting The Legislative Reference Bureau, In Consultation With The Department Of Agriculture, Department Of Taxation, And Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, To Conduct A Study To Recommend To The Legislature How To Support Greater Local Production Of Food.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-23 - Report adopted; referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) McDermott excused (1). [HR157 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2021-HR157-Introduced.html

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	157
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2021
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

requesting the legislative rEFERENCE bureau, in consultation with the department of agriculture, department of taxation, and hawaii EMERGENCY management agency, to conduct a study to recommend to the legislature how to support greater local production of food.

WHEREAS, Hawaii imports the vast majority of its food; and

WHEREAS, studies have shown that food that is less fresh is less nutritious; and

WHEREAS, the lengthy process of shipping food into the State reduces the nutritional value of the food; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii is susceptible to a variety of natural disasters, including hurricanes and tsunamis; and

WHEREAS, according to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, Hawaii has only approximately a three days' supply of food if the States' harbors are rendered inaccessible; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii has rich agricultural lands and near-perfect weather; and

WHEREAS, Hawaii sorely needs to diversify its economy; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2021, that the Legislative Reference Bureau, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Taxation, and Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, is requested to conduct a study to recommend to the Legislature how to support greater local production of food; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study is requested to include an examination of how:

(1) General excise tax exemptions could support greater local production of food;

(2) Greater local production of food could help diversify Hawaii's economy; and

(3) Greater local production of food could help ensure that Hawaii's population continues to have access to food if the State's harbors were ever rendered inaccessible due to a natural or human-caused disaster; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Reference Bureau is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the Regular Session of 2022; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of the Legislative Reference Bureau, Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture, Director of Taxation, Adjutant General, and Administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.