STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1132-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2480

S.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2480, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE WAHIAWA IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Authorize the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire the Wahiawa irrigation system, on terms negotiated and agreed upon by the Office of the Governor, and to purchase, repair, and maintain the associated spillway; and

(2) Appropriate funds for:

(A) The Department of Agriculture to repair and expand the spillway associated with the Wahiawa irrigation system and bring the spillway into compliance with relevant dam safety requirements;

(B) The Department of Agriculture to acquire a fee simple interest in the spillway associated with the Wahiawa irrigation system; and

(C) The Agribusiness Development Corporation and Department of Land and Natural Resources to manage and maintain their respective acquired portions of the Wahiawa irrigation system.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Dole Food Company Hawaii, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Sustainable Hawaii LLC.

Your Committee finds that the Wahiawa irrigation system is critical to providing water to farmers in Waialua and Haleiwa on Oahu. Your Committee further finds that it is in the public interest for the State to acquire the Wahiawa irrigation system and preserve the system for public access and the agriculture industry.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2480, S.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture,

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair