STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1923

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 25

H.D. 1

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. 25, H.D. 1, entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO INCLUDE A STATEMENT ON DESECRATION LAWS IN THE PLANT AND ANIMAL DECLARATION FORM,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture to include on the State of Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form a section on desecration laws.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Your Committee finds that many visitors to Hawaii may be unaware of the various federal, state, and county laws, rules, and ordinances that protect the public monuments and structures they may visit while in the State. Your Committee recognizes that the State of Hawaii Plant and Animal Declaration Form could be an opportune method of notifying visitors of the laws against desecration. This measure aims to educate visitors and further protect certain public monuments and structures, including Native Hawaiian cultural sites, burial grounds, and places of worship, in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Amending its title; 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. 25, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 25, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair