STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3653

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1976

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1976, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance capital improvements to the Waiahole Irrigation System.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hartung Brothers Hawaii; Hawaii Cattlemens Council; Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; HFUU; K&R Enterprises; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Local Food Coalition; Maui County Farm Bureau; Oahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawaii; and fifteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that authorizing general obligation bonds to finance capital improvements to the Waiahole Irrigation System will help to ensure water security for farmers on Oahu.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to upon approval, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1976, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1976, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair