STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2525

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2500

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 2500 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish a food and product innovation network within the Agribusiness Development Corporation; and

(2) Make an appropriation for food and product innovation facilities on the islands of Molokai, Oahu, and Hawaii.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Agribusiness Development Corporation; University of Hawaiʻi System; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and one individual.

Your Committees find that establishing a food and product innovation network is critical to meeting the State's agricultural and economic diversification goals. Your Committees further find that the innovation network will allow businesses in the State to capitalize globally on the "made in Hawaii", "produced in Hawaii", or "processed in Hawaii" brand; create world-class products; and scale up production by providing the businesses with access to a diverse suite of manufacturing equipment and industry expertise.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Inserting a blank appropriation amount for the establishment of one full-time (1.0 FTE) position; and

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

Your Committees note this measure, as amended, contains an appropriation for an unspecified amount. Should your Committee on Ways and Means choose to deliberate on this measure, your Committees respectfully request that it consider an appropriate amount to be inserted.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2500, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2500, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy, Economic Development, and Tourism and Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair

________________________________ LYNN DECOITE, Chair