Clarifying Phased Local Food Purchasing Goals for State Agencies

H.B. 1568 (Act 144) amends existing statute to mandate that specific Hawai’i state departments (Education, Health, Corrections and Rehabilitation, Defense, and the University of Hawai’i system) increase the percentage of food purchased from local sources. The targets are phased: 10% by 2025, 18% by 2030, 26% by 2035, 34% by 2040, 42% by 2045, and 50% by 2050. Each department must report annually to the legislature on progress, including food costs, the percentage of locally sourced food, and explanations if benchmarks are missed.

The bill also broadens the scope of the local purchasing goals to include all types of food purchases instead of just produce.