STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1896

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 1249

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 1249, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Establish an Agricultural Crime Prevention Program within the Department of Agriculture to provide grants, education, administrative enforcement, and other services to benefit the State's agricultural industry;

(2) Clarify, create, and strengthen laws regarding crimes and violations related to agriculture or agricultural lands and hunting on private agricultural lands;

(3) Establish clear distinctions between administrative and criminal penalties; and

(4) Appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to carry out this measure and hire necessary staff.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Kapapala Ranch; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ponoholo Ranch; Hawai‘i Food+ Policy; Ohana Unity Party; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Office of the Public Defender. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Agriculture; and Department of the Attorney General.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 1249, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair