More Good Food & Ag Bills to Support
Protect Our Pollinators
Keep Our Ag Lands in Local Hands
Free School Meals for Keiki
Support SB12: Protect Our Pollinators
What Does This Bill Do?
Classifies neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted use pesticides and establishes a list of chemicals that shall belong to the neonicotinoid class of chemicals. Prohibits the sale or use of seeds coated or treated with neonicotinoid pesticides. Requires the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules that identify and regulate the most harmful neonicotinoid pesticide formulations and develop guidelines for safer alternatives.
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
Neonics pose significant risk to humans, pollinators and environmental health. Recently they were linked to sudden nosebleeds, constant coughing, and passing out while exercising in Mead, Nebraska. In addition to the human toll, the community saw livestock health problems and deaths, as well as “bee kills” (sudden colony collapse). Neonics have the ability to kill bees and other pollinators with extraordinarily low levels of exposure.
Neonics pose significant effects on insects, soil and water. Neonicotinoids often exceed existing regulatory guidelines in surface waters and represent a significant risk to water quality and diverse aquatic and terrestrial fauna that these ecosystems support.
Evidence continues to mount that neonic use is a major contributor to the declines of birds and fish. Research has also linked exposure in the womb with birth defects in deer as well as higher rates of death for fawns. Neonics and their breakdown products (metabolites), like other chemical pesticide compounds, can readily transfer from mother to fetus.
Eleven other states have already restricted the use of neonicotinoids, please support SB12.
Support SB245 Proposed SD1: Keep Our Ag Lands in Local Hands
What Does This Bill Do?
Beginning 1/1/2026, prohibits certain entities (corporation, trust, non-resident entity or investment fund) from owning, purchasing, or acquiring ownership of agricultural lands. Exemptions are made for small, locally owned corps engaged in farming who cannot be involved in speculative landholding or investment.
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
There is increasing concern about the ownership of large amounts of Hawaii’s agricultural lands by foreign or out of state corporations for land speculation and investment. This creates an increasingly uneven playing field for local producers who are struggling to gain access to affordable lands. For Hawaii to move towards increased food security, the state should prioritize access for local producers, and Native Hawaiian practitioners with lineal ties to place. This bill is an important step in prioritizing agricultural lands for local food producers and disincentivizing land speculation. Twenty five states already have restrictions on foreign ownership of agricultural lands. Please support SB245.
The House Committee on Education will be hearing a bill to provide Universal Free School Meals for our keiki on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in Conference Room 309 and Via Videoconference. Testimony is due 24 hours in advance, but late is still accepted.
Support HB757: Universal Free School Meals
What Does This Bill Do?
Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, requires the Department of Education to provide free breakfast and lunch
Why Is This Important? Sample Testimony:
Universal school meals will ensure that no child goes hungry during the school day. One in three households in Hawaii report food insecurity, and almost half (46%) of ALICE households reported food insecurity. Two out of three financially vulnerable families in our state are ineligible for free school meals.Implementing free school meals for all can provide food security to students who may otherwise not eat at all. Access to healthy meals ensures better learning outcomes for students. Please support HB757 to reduce food insecurity for our keiki!
Join us this session in supporting a broad array of bills designed to support local farmers, food producers, increase local food production, address inequities in our food system such as food insecurity, and support regenerative and indigenous farming/food production practices.
Learn more information below about HAPA’s 2024 FSFS policy agenda and take action in support of these Fair & Sustainable Food System policy priorities!
New to Legislative Engagement? Learn more about how to engage in the Legislative Session!
Make sure you have set up your account on the Hawaii State Legislature website. If you are new to the process, see this helpful page on legislative engagement 101 from the Public Access Room including a link on how to submit testimony!
Mahalo for taking action!
