Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2006

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 2177 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to promote agricultural development in Hawaii by proposing a constitutional amendment that authorizes the State to issue special purpose revenue bonds to assist agricultural businesses operating on important agricultural land.

The Department of Agriculture, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation supported this bill. The Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, and Maui Land and Pineapple Company, Inc., supported the intent of this bill. The Sierra Club, Hawaii Chapter, Hanalei Watershed Hui, and Earthjustice opposed this measure.

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 H.B. No. 2177 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.