Informing the Legislature that on July 3, 2024, the Governor signed the following bill into law: HB2278 HD2 SD3 CD1 (ACT 199).

This bill, known as Act 199, establishes new labeling rules for macadamia nuts sold in Hawaii to ensure consumers are accurately informed about the nuts' geographic origin. It directly affects food manufacturers, distributors, and retailers by requiring specific wording on product packages based on the percentage of nuts grown in the state. Products containing only Hawaii-grown nuts must display phrases like "100% Hawaii-Grown Macadamia Nuts," while those with mixed origins must clearly state the percentage of local nuts and include a notice that the package contains nuts grown outside Hawaii. The legislation also mandates that sellers provide proof of origin if asked and prohibits the use of misleading labels that falsely claim all nuts in a package are Hawaiian.