STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3279

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 2062

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Agricultural Emergency Loan Revolving Fund to be administered by the Department of Agriculture to fund class D emergency loans;

(2) Provide a separate source of funding for emergency agricultural loans; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the economic and financial strain caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has demonstrated the need for emergency loans for farmers in the State. In 2020, the Department of Agriculture implemented an emergency loan program to meet that need. However, the program lacks a dedicated funding source. This measure establishes the Agricultural Emergency Loan Revolving Fund to provide a dedicated source of funding for the emergency loan program.

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 H.B. No. 2062, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading 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