STAND. COM. REP. NO.  646

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2017

RE:   H.B. No. 1475

      H.D. 2

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2017

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development & Business, to which was referred H.B. No. 1475, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LANDS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to enhance public access to locally-grown food and value-added products while enabling farmers to be economically sustainable by allowing farmers' markets and food hubs on agricultural lands.  

The Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Farm Bureau supported the intent of this measure.  The Land Use Commission provided comments on this measure.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that agricultural districts may include agricultural-based commercial operations that are headquartered and registered in Hawaii;

     (2)  Requiring value-added products that are displayed, sold, and served as food as part of an agricultural-based commercial operation to contain at least 50 percent Hawaii grown content;

     (3)  Changing its effective date to July 1, 2038, to encourage further discussion; and

     (4)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development & Business that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1475, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1475, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development & Business,

____________________________

MARK M. NAKASHIMA, Chair