STAND. COM. REP. NO. 39

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 765

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. 765 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO BEEKEEPING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Clarify the registration process for beekeepers with the Department of Agriculture;

(2) Require the Department of Agriculture to provide guidance and support to registered beekeepers to help beekeepers adhere to certain industry standards and best management practices; and

(3) Establish a limitation on liability for any registered beekeeper who follows industry standards and best practices.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Grassroot Institute of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Island Harvest, Inc.; and three individuals.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Information Practices.

Your Committee finds that beekeeping is not only an ecological necessity but an economic driver in the State. This measure provides several critical benefits to Hawaii's agricultural and ecological systems, including protecting pollinators, addressing pest and disease management, supporting agricultural productivity, and encouraging responsible beekeeping. Your Committee notes the concerns raised by the Office of Information Practices that this measure, in its current form, deletes statutory language that requires the Department of Agriculture to make publicly available registered beekeepers' names and business addresses. However, this information is required to be disclosed under the Uniform Information Practices Act.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Restoring existing statutory language that requires public disclosure of registered beekeepers' names and business addresses;

(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 Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 765, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 765, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committees on Ways and Means and Commerce and Consumer Protection.

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

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair