STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1129

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 593

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 593, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LAND USE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the development of certain utility-scale solar energy projects on Class A-rated lands in the State Agricultural District, subject to certain requirements and conditions.

Hawaii Clean Power Alliance, Hawaii Farmers Union, A‘a Li‘i Farm, MetroGrow Hawaii, Smart Yields, Green Point Nurseries, Inc., and many individuals testified in support of this measure. The Office of Planning, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Life of the Land, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and a few individuals opposed this measure. The Department of Agriculture; Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism; Ulupono Initiative; and Hawaii Pineapple Company, LLC provided comments on this measure.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 593, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair