STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1034-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2056

S.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 Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2056, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SOIL CLASSIFICATIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require, and appropriate funds for, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct a study of the suitability of soil classification systems, including the soil overall (master) productivity rating system and detailed land classification of the Land Study Bureau, for the regulation of agricultural lands by the State and counties and submit a report to the Legislature.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii State Energy Office, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, University of Hawai‘i, and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and Land Use Commission.

Your Committee finds that the last statewide soil mapping, classification, and characterization study was completed fifty years ago when plantation sugar cane and pineapple production dominated Hawaii agriculture. To help optimize public and private investments in agriculture and meet Hawaii's food and agricultural sustainability goals, accurate soil data is needed. However, as soil classification alone may not be a sufficient indicator of land arability or suitability for agriculture, the study proposed by this measure could examine other factors to consider in the regulation of agricultural lands.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2056, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Agriculture.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water & Land,

____________________________

DAVID A. TARNAS, Chair