Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 1400 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to raise the ceiling amounts for class A and class C state agriculture loans.

Your Committee received testimony in favor of this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Meadow Gold Dairies.

Your Committee finds that the Department of Agriculture's loan program is an important resource to existing and startup farming operations. By raising the loan limits, this measure increases the agriculture loan program's flexibility in lending and provides additional opportunities for farmers to start and expand farming enterprises.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1400 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.