STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2599

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2973

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2973 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to extend regulatory authority of the Department of Agriculture over hemp production until June 30, 2024.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health, Department of Agriculture, South Maui Gardens, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from Hawai‘i Farmers Union United and three individuals.

Your Committee finds that Act 14, Session Laws of Hawaii 2020, will repeal in June 2022. A repeal of that Act will eliminate the Department of Agriculture and Department of Health regulatory authority to allow legalized cultivation and processing of hemp. This measure extends Act 14 to 2024, thereby ensuring continued regulatory authority for the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of January 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

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. 2973, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2973, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair