STAND. COM. REP. NO. 399

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.B. No. 782

H.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 H.B. No. 782 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish and appropriate funds for a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review and make recommendations on amending or repealing unnecessary or obsolete laws pertaining to agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Farmers Union; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; and Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii. Your Committee received comments on this measure from one individual.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii's agricultural industry faces significant challenges, including outdated regulations that may no longer align with modern farming practices. Many existing agricultural laws were established decades ago and could be hindering innovation, efficiency, and the State's goal of increasing local food production. This measure establishes a working group within the Department of Agriculture to review and recommend amendments or repeals of unnecessary or obsolete laws that may be impeding agricultural growth. By streamlining regulatory processes and ensuring policies remain relevant, this measure also supports a more resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a representative from the Hawaii Farmers Union to the working group;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $100,000 for the working group.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 782, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 782, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair