STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1362

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1185

S.D. 1

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 S.B. No. 1185, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawai‘i Agriculture Research Center; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; East Oahu County Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's agricultural sector is hindered by outdated laws that do not reflect current farming practices or the State's evolving agricultural goals. Many of these regulations were created decades ago and may now be limiting progress, efficiency, and the expansion of local food production. By modernizing regulatory frameworks and removing unnecessary barriers, this measure promotes a more adaptable, productive, and sustainable agricultural economy for Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the responsibilities of the working group, including specifying an initial focus of its review of laws that directly impact agricultural viability and land use and authorizing the working group to recommend additional laws for future review in subsequent legislative sessions;

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

(3) 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 appropriation amount of $100,000 for the working group.

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. 1185, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1185, 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 Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair