STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1924

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 200

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 200 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION MAUI AXIS DEER CONTROL AND VENISON INITIATIVE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the State Department of Agriculture and the County of Maui Department of Agriculture to take further meaningful action to address the axis deer overpopulation.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawaii Forest Industry Association; and six individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Roar.

Your Committee finds that the axis deer overpopulation poses a threat to the County of Maui. Your Committee recognizes that axis deer can be utilized to provide under-resourced segments of the State's communities with a source of protein. This measure urges the implementation of certain policies to address axis deer overpopulation and the convention of a joint task force to oversee a Maui county program facilitating the processing and distribution of venison in the State and submit a report to the Legislature before November 30, 2025.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title to reflect the intent of the measure; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 200, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption, in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 200, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair