STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2089

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.C.R. No. 34

S.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING HAWAII'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO PETITION THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF PARITY BETWEEN HAWAII AND OTHER STATES AND TERRITORIES PERTAINING TO THE EXPORT OF AGRICULTURAL GOODS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to request Hawaii's congressional delegation to petition the United States Department of Agriculture to address the lack of parity between Hawaii and other states and territories pertaining to the export of agricultural goods.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that under title 7 Code of Federal Regulations part 318, the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture may prohibit or restrict the movement in interstate commerce of any plant or plant product from Hawaii and the territories, unless specifically allowed, to the continental United States to prevent the introduction of plant pests on the continent. Your Committee further finds that the allowable list is limited and shipments of fruits and vegetables require quarantine treatment, inspection, and authorization by the United States Department of Agriculture, severely limiting the State's exports.

Your Committee further finds that for the State to add more agricultural commodities to the allowable list, a petition must be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture requesting a pest risk analysis to be conducted. However, there is a long-standing problem that petitions from the State are processed with petitions from foreign countries, which are often deemed a higher priority and expedited. This measure requests that Hawaii's congressional delegation petition the United States Department of Agriculture to address the lack of parity between Hawaii and other states and territories pertaining to the export of agricultural goods.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 34, S.D. 1, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair