STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2613

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2327

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. 2327 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with agricultural growers and researchers to develop and implement a program to safely distribute disease and insect free tropical plant materials to Hawaii farmers;

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture to adopt rules to specify plant species and varieties that warrant additional regulations; and

(3) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the State's tropical flower industry is an important part of the agricultural sector. There is concern, however, that certain diseases that affect tropical flowers and foliage have caused a decline in the industry. This measure reduces the risks to the tropical flower industry by requiring the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with agricultural growers to implement a program to safely distribute disease and insect free plant materials to farmers.

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. 2327 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