STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2887

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2988

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2988 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate moneys to the Department of Agriculture for the control and mitigation of the two-lined spittlebug and to fund recovery efforts for lands damaged by the pest.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Ulupono Initiative; Local Food Coalition; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Parker Ranch, Inc.; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Ulupalakua Ranch, Haleakala Ranch; Barbed S. Ranch, LLC; and eight individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that the two-lined spittlebug is devastating to Hawaii's cattle industry and threatens the State's goals of food security and food self-sufficiency. Two-lined spittlebug infestations reduce the quality of forage and pastures by killing key forage species or reducing their nutritional value, palatability, and productivity. Your Committee recognizes that the mitigation and recovery efforts funded by this measure will help the State address an invasive species that directly affects local food production.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation amount to an unspecified sum;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(3) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2988, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2988, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair