STAND. COM. REP. NO. 339-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1712

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 Consumer Protection & Commerce, to which was referred H.B. No. 1712, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to protect agricultural lands in Hawaii for agricultural use by prohibiting the siting of waste disposal facilities on important agricultural lands and agricultural lands with class A or B productivity ratings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, CropLife America, Biotechnology Innovation Organization, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Environmental Services of the City and County of Honolulu and one individual.

Your Committee finds that siting landfills on agricultural lands jeopardizes crop safety because it may cause contamination through dust, soil runoff, or poor water quality. Your Committee further finds that the appropriate, primary use of lands within the agricultural district is for actual agricultural purposes, to protect food safety of consumers of locally grown food.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1712, H.D. 1, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce,

____________________________

AARON LING JOHANSON, Chair