STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2618

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2538

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. 2538 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE CRIMINAL DESTRUCTION OF TREES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make criminal the destruction of any tree on state or county property to be punishable as a misdemeanor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Transportation, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General.

Your Committee finds that this measure supports the State's environmental sustainability goals by protecting Hawaii's trees. Trees are an important source of carbon sequestration and improve the general quality of life of the State's residents.

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. 2538 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Judiciary and Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair