STAND. COM. REP. NO. 272

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 489

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2021

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred S.B. No. 489 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to increase the maximum area for each agricultural shade cloth structure, cold farm, and greenhouses that could qualify the structure for an exemption from building permit and building code requirements.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning; University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Aloun Farms; Ulupono Initiative LLC; Hawaii Farming LLC; Big Island Produce Asset Holdings LLC; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and two individuals.

Your Committees find that the existing maximum area for each agricultural shade cloth structure, cold frame, and greenhouse that qualifies the structure for an exemption from building permit and building code requirements is twenty thousand square feet. Increasing the maximum area allowed from twenty thousand to sixty thousand square feet will support local food production. Your Committees find that this measure is narrowly tailored to agricultural structures meant for agricultural production. Your Committees further find that this measure will drastically cut construction costs and effectively utilize the open areas currently required between smaller greenhouses. According to testimony received by your Committees, this measure will make farming more productive and economically feasible for farmers and help Hawaii reach its self-sustaining food production goals.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 489 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

________________________________ CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair