STAND. COM. REP. NO. 701-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2758

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2758, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Facilitate the control and eradication of invasive species and pests;

(2) Establish a Plant Nursery Licensing Program;

(3) Require the Board of Agriculture to designate certain species as pests for control or eradication;

(4) Impose certain limits on imports and transportation; and

(5) Update the method by which the Board of Agriculture updates its noxious weed list.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; ʻAhahui o na Kauka Association of Native Hawaiian Physicians; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaiʻi Land Trust; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Kupuna for the Moʻopuna; Livable Hawaii Kai Hui; Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo; Malu ʻAina; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Maui Chamber of Commerce; and Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species.

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 H.B. No. 2758, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair