STAND. COM. REP. NO. 719

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2019

RE: H.B. No. 937

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 Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 937 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to increase the maximum amount of an agricultural or aquacultural loan that may be approved by the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture from $25,000 to $100,000.

The Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Ulupono Initiative, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Our Revolution Hawaii, and Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee supported this measure.

Your Committee notes that it has concerns about increasing the maximum loan amount to $100,000.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the maximum amount of an agricultural or aquacultural loan that the Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture is authorized to approve to an unspecified amount; and

(2) Changing its effective date to July 1, 2150, to encourage further discussion.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 937, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 937, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

RICHARD P. CREAGAN, Chair