STAND. COM. REP. NO. 192

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 1184

H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 1184 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CONTROLLED-ENVIRONMENT AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for the development of a controlled‑environment agriculture research and demonstration facility at the Magoon research and teaching site in Manoa, Oahu.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Floriculture and Nursery Association; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that a comprehensive approach to controlled-environment agriculture is essential for advancing sustainable food production in Hawaii. Establishing a state-of-the-art research and demonstration facility at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Magoon research and teaching site will provide a platform for research, education, and industry development. This measure supports the next generation of researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners and promotes commercial-scale agricultural innovation by supporting the development of a controlled-environment agriculture research and demonstration facility.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an amount of $6,000,000 for the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriation.

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 H.B. No. 1184, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1184, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair