STAND. COM. REP. NO.  791-14

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2014

RE:   H.B. No. 1929

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1929, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARMERS MARKETS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage the purchase of fresh produce at farmers' markets that are intended for human consumption within the State by exempting the sale from the general excise tax.

Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  The Department of Agriculture, Department of the Attorney General, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii commented on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2030, to encourage further discussion.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1929, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1929, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair