STAND. COM. REP. NO. 849

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1185

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 S.B. No. 1185, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farmers Union, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Purple Maia Foundation, and two individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that unnecessary or obsolete sections of the Hawaii Revised Statutes are impeding the growth and success of Hawaii's vital agricultural industry. Your Committee, therefore, finds that the Hawaii Revised Statutes should be carefully reviewed by those stakeholders most closely involved in the agricultural industry and who are most knowledgeable about these impediments to ensure that this essential part of the State's economy and way of life can survive and thrive into the future.

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 S.B. No. 1185, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair