STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1215-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 2990

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2990, S.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a cover crop reimbursement pilot program to reimburse qualifying farming operations for acquisition costs for cover crop seeds, green manure, and compost.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; University of Hawai‘i System; one member of the Hawai‘i County Council; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; 350Hawaii.org; Climate Protectors Hawai‘i; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Down to Earth Organic and Natural; Kauai Women's Caucus; and eight individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of the Attorney General, and Hawaii Cattlemen's Council.

Your Committee finds that soil health and agricultural sustainability are dependent on protecting, maintaining, and increasing soil organic matter. Cover cropping is one tool that has shown to be effective in building soil organic matter, resulting in soil stability during a fallow period, increased soil water retention capacity, increased soil nutrient retention and release capacity, and enhanced soil microorganism biodiversity. This measure will incentivize the use of management practices to improve the quality and sustainability of the State's agricultural lands.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

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

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair