STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1998

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2025

RE: S.B. No. 763

S.D. 2

H.D. 3

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred S.B. No. 763, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to establish the Agricultural Enforcement Program within the Department of Law Enforcement, to be funded by a newly established Agricultural Enforcement Special Fund, and appropriate funds for the establishment of positions and other operating costs of the Agricultural Enforcement Program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agribusiness Development Corporation; County of Hawaiʻi, Office of the Prosecuting Attorney; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Kapapala Ranch; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Ponoholo Ranch; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hilo County Farm Bureau; SC Ranch Company, Inc.; Ohana Unity Party; and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance; Department of Law Enforcement; and Hawaiʻi Farmers Union.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the number of positions to be established within the Agricultural Enforcement Program to unspecified numbers; and

(2) Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 763, S.D. 2, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 763, S.D. 2, H.D. 3.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair