STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2385

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2710

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2710 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 for an agricultural appraiser within the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; East Oahu County Farm Bureau; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association; and nineteen individuals.

Your Committee finds that there are no certified agricultural appraisers in Hawaii, therefore commercial appraisers lack the specialized knowledge required to accurately appraise agricultural properties, which can result in appraisals for private agricultural lands that are far higher than their actual value. Your Committee believes that for purposes of accuracy and equity, a certified agricultural appraiser within the Department of Agriculture is necessary to ensure accurate valuations of agricultural properties within the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Replacing the term "agricultural appraiser" with the term "accredited rural appraiser";

(2) Clarifying that the lack of specialized knowledge required to accurately appraise agricultural properties can result in appraisals for state agricultural lands, rather than private agricultural lands, that are far higher than their actual value; and

(3) 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 S.B. No. 2710, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2710, 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