STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1355-18

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2018

RE: S.B. No. 481

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 481, S.D. 2, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to add the definition of "landowner", which includes a tenant of public lands, as defined in section 171-2, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the provisions relating to the identification and designation of important agricultural lands.

The Office of Planning, Land Use Commission, Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc., and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau supported this measure. A concerned individual opposed this measure. The Department of Agriculture offered comments.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing its effective date to July 1, 2050, to promote further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 481, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 481, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

RYAN I. YAMANE, Chair