STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2621

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2664

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2664 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE PROTECTION OF TARO,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Create a classification of agricultural public lands entitled "taro lands"; and

(2) Appropriate funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources to create an inventory of lands classified as taro lands.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hydroponics Alternatives LLC, and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that Hawaii imports a substantial portion of the food it consumes. The need for imports is particularly acute for essential starches. However, taro is a culturally significant food crop in Hawaii that could meet the State's need for essential starches. This measure creates a land classification for taro lands to promote the cultivation of taro crops in Hawaii and reduce the State's dependence on food imports.

Your Committees have amended this measure by replacing the Board of Land and Natural Resources with the Land Use Commission as the agency responsible for conducting the inventory and as the expending agency of the appropriation for the inventory.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2664, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2664, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair