STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1558

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: H.C.R. No. 27

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.C.R. No. 27 entitled:

"HOUSE 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.

Your Committee finds that Hawaii is the only state in the nation regulated similarly to the United States territories. 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. Unfortunately, the allowable list is limited and Hawaii waits in the same queue as foreign countries seeking to export products into the United States, 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 a petition must be submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture in order for the State to add more agricultural commodities to the allowable list. 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 H.C.R. No. 27 and recommends its adoption.

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

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KIRSTIN KAHALOA, Chair