STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2704

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2056

S.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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2056 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the State's food sustainability and agricultural production goals.

Specifically, the measure:

(1) Requires 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;

(2) Requires the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to submit a report to the Legislature; and

(3) Appropriates funds to the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development to conduct the study.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Hawaii State Energy Office, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the study and accompanying report required by this measure will facilitate optimal public and private agricultural investments by providing valuable information to help the State more effectively identify productive agricultural lands and protect agricultural production resources under state and county land use regulatory systems.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2056, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2056, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair