STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2601

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2977

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. 2977 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EGG-LAYING HENS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish standards for the confinement of egg-laying hens and to prohibit business owners or operators from selling eggs or egg products that were produced by egg-laying hens confined in a cruel manner.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from The Humane Society of the United States; Humane Society International; Villa Rose; Animal Equality Hawaii; Compassion in World Farming USA; Mercy For Animals; American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; The Humane League; Friends of the Earth; Animal Outlook; Americans for Family Farmers; Animal Legal Defense Fund; Center for Biological Diversity; Natural Resource Defense Council; World Animal Protection; Carpenter & Carpenter, Inc.; Farm Sanctuary; and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Hawaiian Egg Company DBA Mikilua Poultry Farm, and five individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that human health and the welfare of farm animals depend on adequate regulation of food production, including egg production. Moreover, insufficient regulation of egg production and sales can have detrimental fiscal effects on the State's agricultural industry. This measure implements stronger regulations for the confinement of egg-laying hens to promote human safety and animal welfare.

Your Committee has amended this measure by increasing the maximum number of hens required for an exemption from thirty thousand to seventy-five thousand.

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. 2977, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2977, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Commerce and Consumer Protection and Judiciary.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair