STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1687

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1006

H.D. 2

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 Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to clarify and expand certain responsibilities of the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Includes agricultural tourism in the definition of "enterprise" to authorize the Agribusiness Development Corporation to financially support farming businesses engaged in agricultural tourism; and

(2) Transfers the Agricultural Development Division of the Department of Agriculture to the Agribusiness Development Corporation.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Maui Chamber of Commerce, and one individual.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawaii Tropical Flower Council, Orchid Growers of Hawaii, and Synergistic Hawaii Agriculture Council.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation and County of Hawaii Department of Research and Development.

Your Committee finds that this measure will authorize the Agribusiness Development Corporation to provide financial and strategic support to farming businesses engaged in agricultural tourism, which is a growing and vital component of Hawaii's agricultural industry. Your Committee further finds that transferring the Agricultural Development Division from the Department of Agriculture to the Agribusiness Development Corporation under the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism can strengthen inter-agency collaboration, thereby providing a more efficient and cohesive marketing approach for Hawaii's agricultural businesses.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1006, H.D. 2, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair