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HR 86

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND BIOSECURITY TO JOINTLY DEVELOP A FARMER-TO-INSTITUTION COORDINATION PLAN THAT IS ALIGNED WITH THE AINA KITCHEN NETWORK ROLLOUT.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Terez Amato and 9 co-sponsors

Hawaii resolution urges education and agriculture departments to jointly plan local farmer-to-institution supply coordination aligned with AINA Kitchen Network expansion for school food systems.

The committee on EDN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Woodson, La Chica, Amato, Evslin, Kapela, Olds; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 4 Excused: Representative(s) Garrett, Kila, Muraoka, Souza.
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Bill Summary · HR 86

Legislative bill overview

HR 86 urges Hawaii's Department of Education and Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to jointly create a coordination plan connecting local farmers with schools and institutions, specifically aligned with the AINA Kitchen Network expansion. The bill is a resolution (non-binding) rather than legislation, meaning it expresses intent but does not mandate action or allocate funding.

Why is this important

This addresses Hawaii's agricultural sustainability and food security by potentially strengthening the local farm-to-school supply chain, reducing food imports, and supporting small farmers. It could increase fresh local food access in institutional cafeterias while creating economic opportunities for Hawaii's agriculture sector, which has faced decades of decline.

Potential points of contention

  • Non-binding nature: As a resolution, this carries no enforcement mechanism; agencies could ignore it without legal consequence, making actual implementation uncertain
  • Funding and resources: No budget allocation is specified, so implementation would depend on existing departmental resources or require separate appropriations, potentially limiting scope
  • AINA Kitchen Network alignment: The plan must coordinate with an external network's rollout timeline and priorities, which may not align with government agencies' operational capabilities or existing procurement contracts with distant suppliers

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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