STAND. COM. REP. NO. 215

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 448

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 Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.B. No. 448 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Agribusiness Development Corporation to acquire a conservation easement in Central Oahu.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United, and Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau.

Your Committee finds that throughout the State's history, Hawaii has prioritized conservation, protection of the environment, and responsible use of the State's land, air, water, and other natural resources. This dedication has been mandated within the Hawaii State Constitution by specifying the State's obligation to conserve, protect, and develop responsible self-sufficiency with regards to natural resources and agricultural lands. This constitutional mandate can be furthered through conservation easements, or legal agreements to limit the use of land in order to protect it from irresponsible overuse and irreparable damage.

Your Committee further finds that the State has also displayed concerted efforts to promote agricultural self-sufficiency. Through Act 175, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, and Act 176, Session Laws of Hawaii 2021, regulations were set for state agencies to purchase locally sourced food and fresh local agricultural products to revitalize local agricultural communities. Therefore, to meet the needs of Hawaii communities and follow the constitutional and statutory mandates by the Legislature, this measure will appropriate funds for acquiring a conservation easement in central Oahu.

Your Committee has amended this measure by inserting an effective date of July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion.

Your Committee notes that this measure contains an unspecified appropriation amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider an appropriation amount based on future requests made by the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 448, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 448, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism,

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LYNN DECOITE, Chair