STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1807-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 346

S.D. 2

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 Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 346, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FARM ANIMALS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Between January 1, 2028, and June 30, 2032, make it unlawful for a farm owner or operator or a business owner or operator to sell or offer for sale for human consumption any shell egg that has not been certified by the United States Department of Agriculture as being cage free, as evidenced by the United States Department of Agriculture certified cage free grademark or shield; and

(2) Establish and appropriate funds for the temporary Cage Free Matching Grant Program within the Department of Agriculture to provide farm owners or operators and business owners or operators with matching grants to assist them in converting their operations to meet the certified cage free requirements.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiian Humane Society, Animal Outlook, Hawaiian Egg Company, and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance, Department of Agriculture, Animal Equality, Center for Biological Diversity, The Humane Society of the United States, Hawaiian Airlines, Compassion in World Farming USA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Humane Society International, Friends of the Earth, Down to Earth Organic and Natural, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Petersons' Upland Farm, World Animal Protection, Farm Sanctuary, The Humane League, Villa Rose, Mercy for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 346, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

SYLVIA LUKE, Chair