STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2945

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2105

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2105, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture for the establishment and administration of the agriculture grant program to support local food production in the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Land Use Research Foundation; Hawaii Farmers Union United Kona Chapter; Maui Farmers Union United; Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers; Maui County Farm Bureau; Kulahaven Farms LLC; Hawaii Farmers Union United; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; O‘ahu County Legislative Priorities Committee of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; and one hundred one individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that the State's goal of doubling local food production by 2020 necessitates that the Department of Agriculture develop and support loss mitigation and efficiency improvement in the State's agriculture industry. Your Committee further finds that doubling local food production is vital for the State's future well-being and that it is essential to provide the Department of Agriculture with sufficient resources to achieve this goal.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Designating that the appropriation is for the Department of Agriculture to support local food production projects, rather than for the establishment and administration of the agriculture grant program;

(2) Inserting an appropriation amount of $1,500,000;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2018; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2105, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2105, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair