STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2039-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.C.R. No. 76

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.C.R. No. 76 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO PROHIBIT UNAPPROVED RESIDENTIAL USE OF FARM DWELLINGS IN AGRICULTURAL PARKS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request the Board of Agriculture to establish a prohibition on unapproved residential uses of farm dwellings in agricultural parks and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that agricultural parks are an essential component of the State's agricultural industry and the primary purpose of agricultural parks is for agricultural production. Your Committee further finds that this measure requests the Board of Agriculture to establish a prohibition on the unapproved residential use of farm dwellings on agricultural parks, which will help address numerous complaints that have been received from communities in or near agricultural parks regarding dust, noise, and other nuisances from the residential use of agricultural parks.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 76 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs.

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

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MARK J. HASHEM, Chair