STAND. COM. REP. NO. 171-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2138

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2138 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure to appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources to establish an agriculture education coordinator position.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaiʻi System; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action; Green Party of Hawaiʻi; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Local Food Coalition; Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management; We Are One, Inc.; Hawaiʻi Farmers Union United Lanai Chapter; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee finds that to meet the State's aspirations for increased food security and self-sufficiency, the number of local farms and farmers and the amount of food produced for local markets will need to increase significantly. A primary cause of the shortage of new farmers in Hawaii during the past several decades has been the decline in support for agriculture education, resulting in insufficient interest among youth in pursuing the fields of agriculture and natural resource management. This measure supports a coordinated framework for the expansion of an educated agricultural workforce, which will increase food security, food self-sufficiency, sustainability, and resiliency for Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

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. 2138, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2138, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair