STAND. COM. REP. NO. 891-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1657

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 1657, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LEASES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require, as a condition precedent for any valid withdrawal of lands out of pasture leases for reforestation purposes, that the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources submit a funded action plan detailing the planned reforestation process for those lands and that the withdrawal be approved by the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Kapapala Ranch. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Local Food Coalition; and one individual.

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. 1657, 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