STAND. COM. REP. NO. 14

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 688

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 S.B. No. 688 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 establish three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) grant specialist positions within the Department of Agriculture to assist farmers and ranchers in applying for obtaining, and fulfilling the requirement of grants.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that, in fiscal year 2025, the Department of Agriculture identified more than $22 million in potential grant awards, ranging from agricultural innovation to water infrastructure to food systems developments. However, grant writing for federal, state, county, and other grants involve complex application processes that can be difficult to navigate, which may deter farmers and ranchers from pursuing these opportunities. Equipping the Department of Agriculture with sufficient staff to help eligible applicants pursue these funding opportunities is a proactive step in providing much needed support to the State's agricultural community and has the potential to increase the State's local food production and self-sufficiency.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

Your Committee notes that testimony from the Department of Agriculture requests that the three full-time equivalent (3.0 FTE) grant specialist positions established in this measure be considered program specialist SR-24 level employees. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider this designation.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 688, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 688, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair