STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1548

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 831

H.D. 2

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. 831, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to grant the Department of Agriculture the statutory power to own real, personal, or mixed property for immediate or future use.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that this measure complements existing agricultural land, irrigation, and agricultural enterprise programs of the Department of Agriculture that are meant to increase agricultural production by providing stable tenure and access to agricultural resources for commercial agricultural producers.

Your Committee has amended this measure by 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. 831, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 831, H.D. 2.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair