CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 32-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2990

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2990, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a cover crop reimbursement pilot program to provide up to seventy-five percent cost reimbursement to farming operations in the State for the acquisition of cover crop seeds, green manure, or compost;

(2) Require the convening of a review panel to screen and rate applicants on the quality of their cover crop, green manure, and composting practices;

(3) Establish a cover crop reimbursement pilot program manager position within the department of agriculture to administer the program;

(4) Require reports to the legislature; and

(5) Appropriate funds.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the use of cover crops significantly increases agricultural productivity, which is essential to the State's food security and self-sufficiency goals. A cover crop program would incentivize beneficial and sustainable use of cover crops by agricultural producers in the State. Accordingly, this measure establishes and funds a cover crop pilot program to be administered by the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting an appropriation amount of $300,000;

(2) Deleting the proviso limiting expenses allowed for administrative costs; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2022.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2990, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2990, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ MARK J. HASHEM Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ AMY A. PERRUSO Co-Chair	____________________________ MAILE S.L. SHIMABUKURO Co-Chair