STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1341

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 1486

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 1486, S.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO MEAT PROCESSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration and consultation with other entities, to develop and implement a plan to expand the meat processing and distribution capacity in the State to allow for meat from axis deer and other wild game to be processed for distribution by nonprofit food distribution services.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Health; Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association; Maui County Farm Bureau; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Hawaii Food+ Policy; Aina Ho‘okupu o Kilauea; and four individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that expanding the meat processing and distribution capacity in Hawaii to allow for the donation of axis deer and other wild game to feed the hungry provides a productive way to remove invasive species, such as deer, goat, and pigs, and protect the environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(2) 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 & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1486, S.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1486, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair