STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2494

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2706

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2706 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to amend certain land subdivision and condominium property regime laws related to agricultural land, as recommended pursuant to Act 278, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Office of Planning; Department of Agriculture; Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu; Land Use Commission; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; and Hawai‘i Farm Bureau.

Your Committees find that designating land for agricultural uses can increase the long-term sustainability of local agricultural production. Your Committees further find that the State must ensure that agricultural lands are being used for agriculture and improve its enforcement of requirements that agricultural uses are taking place on agricultural lands. This measure amends certain land subdivision and condominium property regime laws related to agricultural land, as recommended by the Office of Planning in its study of subdivision and condominium property regimes on agricultural lands on Oahu to ensure agricultural lands that are organized under a condominium property regime are used for agricultural purposes.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2706 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ KAIALI'I KAHELE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair