STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2605

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1025

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 S.B. No. 1025 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Agriculture to plan, design, construct, operate, manage, maintain, repair, demolish, and remove infrastructure on any lands under its jurisdiction;

(2) Establish the Agricultural Enterprise Program and Special Fund; and

(3) Require the Board of Agriculture to annually report an accounting of non-agricultural park lessees to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Local Food Coalition; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Hawaii Aquaculture & Aquaponics Association; East O‘ahu County Farm Bureau; and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.

Your Committee finds that many small farming operations do not have access to the resources required to maintain high productivity processing, packing, storage, and distribution enterprises. The Department of Agriculture plays an important role in supporting enterprises that lack the necessary resources to increase productivity. This measure establishes an agricultural enterprise program, which will allow the Department of Agriculture to provide continued support for agricultural enterprises.

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. 1025 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