HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THE TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE
REGULAR SESSION OF 2017
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Rep. Richard P. Creagan, Chair |
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Rep. Lynn DeCoite, Vice Chair |
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Rep. Cedric Asuega Gates |
Rep. Gregg Takayama |
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Rep. Kaniela Ing |
Rep. Cynthia Thielen |
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Rep. Matthew S. LoPresti |
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NOTICE OF HEARING
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DATE: |
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 |
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TIME: |
8:30 AM |
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PLACE: |
Conference Room 312 State Capitol 415 South Beretania Street |
A G E N D A
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RELATING TO INVASIVE PLANTS. Simplifies the listing process for the designation of plants on the restricted plants list and the noxious weeds list by using the Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment to prevent the importation, sale, and uncontrolled spread of invasive species. (HB228 HD1)
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EEP, AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO LOCALLY GROWN FOOD. Establishes the farm to school grant program to provide grants to farmers participating in the Hawaii farm to school program. Creates the farm to school grant program special fund. Makes appropriations. Creates two full-time positions. (HB255 HD1)
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EDN, AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO TAXATION. Establishes an income tax credit for agricultural businesses that are required to take land out of active production in order to comply with federal food safety requirements.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Appropriates funds to support three additional inspector positions on the island of Oahu within the department of agriculture's pesticides branch.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO IRRIGATION. Establishes an income tax credit for farmers who purchase water at higher rates from county water boards rather than at lower state irrigation system rates. Establishes the amount of the credit as the difference between the amount charged by state irrigation systems and the amount the state irrigation systems should charge in order to sustain operations. Deducts the cost of the tax credit from the irrigation system revolving fund. Applies to taxable years beginning after 12/31/2017.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Repeals the provision that makes the claiming of tax credit for agricultural costs contingent upon the tax credit for the aquarium and marine science research facility at Ko Olina Resort and the training and educational facilities at Makaha Resort being repealed, exhausted, or expired. Clarifies definition of "qualified agricultural costs." Repeals the provision that the Department of Agriculture must cease certifying credits after 2017.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Expands the agricultural commodities general excise tax exemption to include cattle, goats, lambs, sheep, hogs, pork, and chickens; meat and carcasses of cattle, goats, lambs, sheep, hogs, pork, and chickens; milk products; eggs; and products of aquaculture and aquaponics.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL HEMP. Removes criminal and civil penalties for the growing, possession, processing, and selling of industrial hemp.
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AGR, JUD |
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RELATING TO THE HEALTH IMPACT OF PESTICIDES. Establishes buffer zones around schools that restrict pesticide use by any entity or person.
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AGR, HLT, EDN |
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RELATING TO PESTICIDES. Increases the pesticide licensing fee and requires annual renewal of the license. Amends authorized uses for moneys in the pesticide use revolving fund. Requires memorandum of understanding between the department of agriculture and the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources regarding the expenditure of funds from the pesticide use revolving fund and a report to the legislature. Establishes an environmental toxicologist position within the department of agriculture and a pesticide extension specialist, through a contract with the department of agriculture, within the University of Hawaii college of tropical agriculture and human resources. Appropriates funds out of the pesticide use revolving fund for specific purposes.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO STATE FINANCES. Increases the general excise tax by one percentage point for a two-year period to provide a dedicated funding source for the acquisition of agricultural lands. Establishes the Acquisition of Agricultural Lands Trust Fund to further this purpose.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes a K-12 Agriculture Workforce Development Pipeline Initiative in DLIR to conduct training for teachers and school administrators in agricultural self-sufficiency. Appropriates funds.
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AGR, EDN, FIN |
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RELATING TO FARMS. Creates an exclusion from income tax for the first $50,000 of income earned by farmers whose gross income is $200,000 or less.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO AGRICULTURE. Establishes the Industrial Hemp Special Fund. Provides that agricultural land utilized to grow industrial hemp shall qualify for the minimum dedication period and be assessed at the lowest percentage of fair market value. Clarifies that the cultivation of industrial hemp shall be limited to licensed owners, lessees, or occupiers of agricultural lands.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO GENERAL EXCISE TAX EXEMPTIONS. Provides a general excise tax exemption for the gross proceeds or income arising from the manufacture, production, packaging, and sale of select healthy foods in the State; as well as a general excise tax exemption for locally grown or produced foods.
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AGR, FIN |
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RELATING TO SUSTAINABILITY. Establishes a diversified farming business investment tax credit.
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AGR, FIN |
DECISION MAKING TO FOLLOW
Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. Testimony should indicate:
· Testifier's name with position/title and organization;
· The Committee(s) to which the comments are directed;
· The date and time of the hearing; and
· Measure number.
While every effort will be made to incorporate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.
Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:
PAPER: 5 copies (including an original) to Room 324 in the State Capitol;
FAX: For testimony less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 808-586-6779 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (for Neighbor Islander without a computer to submit testimony through e-mail or the Web); or
WEB: For testimony less than 10MB in size, transmit from http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx.
Testimony submitted will be placed on the legislative website. This public posting of testimony on the website should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.
If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids and/or services to participate in the House public hearing process (i.e., sign or foreign language interpreter or wheelchair accessibility), please contact the Committee Clerk at 586-9605 or email your request for an interpreter to HouseInterpreter@Capitol.hawaii.gov at least 24 hours prior to the hearing for arrangements. Prompt requests submitted help to ensure the availability of qualified individuals and appropriate accommodations.
Selected meetings are broadcast live. Check the current legislative broadcast schedule on the "Capitol TV" website at www.capitoltv.org or call 536-2100.
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________________________________________ Rep. Richard P. Creagan Chair |