STAND. COM. REP. NO. 362

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 19

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 Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 19 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to support the important work of the Division of Aquatic Resources (Division) of the Department of Land and Natural Resources by funding various positions within the Division.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Mālama Pūpūkea Waimea, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force, Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy, and two individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from For the Fishes.

Your Committee finds that it is the Division's mission to manage, conserve, and restore the State's unique aquatic resources and ecosystems for present and future generations. Your Committee finds that the State faces numerous increasing threats to its streams, estuaries, and reefs from invasive species, habit degradation, land-based sources of pollution, reduced freshwater flow, and disasters, which in turn have adversely impacted the fishing and gathering practices of local communities. This measure will enable the Division to assist local communities and better fulfill its mission.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing each appropriation to an unspecified amount;

(2) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 19, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 19, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

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LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair