STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1241-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2951

S.D. 1

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water & Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2951, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE EAST KAUAI IRRIGATION SYSTEM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds and establish positions for the Agribusiness Development Corporation to maintain and improve the East Kauai Irrigation System.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Department of Hawaiian Home Lands; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Office of the Mayor County of Kauaʻi; County of Kauai Office of Economic Development; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Ulupono Initiative; Local Food Coalition; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Saiva Siddhanta Church; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; East Kauai Water Users' Cooperative; Kalepa Koalition; and Kekaha Agriculture Association.

Your Committee finds that the East Kauai Irrigation System is a critical source of water in the region that supports agricultural production in Hawaii. The East Kauai Irrigation System is also a century-old system that requires repair, renovation, and improvements. This measure will provide the necessary funding for the maintenance and improvements to the East Kauai Irrigation System to ensure the System continues to provide irrigation water to farm operations in East Kauai.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the appropriation for maintenance of and improvements to the East Kauai Irrigation System to an unspecified amount;

(2) Changing the number of positions established within the Agribusiness Development Corporation to an unspecified number;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

(4) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider:

(1) Appropriating $750,000 for maintenance of and improvements to the East Kauai Irrigation System; and

(2) Appropriating funds for three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) positions within the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water & Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2951, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2951, 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 Water & Land,

____________________________

LINDA ICHIYAMA, Chair