CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 153-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 2074

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2074, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL LAND QUALIFIED AGRICULTURAL COST TAX CREDIT,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to extend the period of time during which the Department of Agriculture may certify important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credits through December 31, 2028.

Your Committee on Conference finds that to address the issue of important agricultural lands, Act 183, Session Laws of Hawaii 2005 (Act 183), established standards, criteria, and mechanisms to identify important agricultural lands and to implement the intent and purpose of article XI, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution. Act 233, Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, subsequently established incentives under the requirements of Act 183, including the important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credit. Your Committee on Conference finds that this measure provides additional time for certification of such tax credits to allow landowners and farmers to claim the tax credit in the event their agricultural lands are identified as potential important agricultural lands and designated as such by the Land Use Commission.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Shortening the extension period during which the Department of Agriculture may certify important agricultural land qualified agricultural cost tax credits through December 31, 2021; and

(2) Changing the effective date to upon approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2074, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2074, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ RICHARD P. CREAGAN Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ TY J.K. CULLEN Co-Chair	____________________________ J. KALANI ENGLISH Co-Chair