STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3041

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 Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Judiciary, 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 ensure that agricultural lands organized under a condominium property regime are used for agricultural purposes by amending certain land subdivision and condominium property regime laws relating to agricultural lands.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of Planning, and Department of Planning and Permitting of the City and County of Honolulu.

Your Committees find that designating land for agricultural uses can increase the long-term sustainability of local agricultural production. Your Committees further find that to ensure that agricultural lands are being utilized appropriately, the Legislature enacted Act 278, Session Laws of Hawaii 2019, which directed the Office of Planning, in consultation with other agencies, to study land subdivision and condominium property regime laws relating to agricultural lands. As a result, the Office of Planning submitted recommendations to the Legislature on how to better enforce requirements that agricultural lands are used for agricultural purposes. This measure will ensure that agricultural lands that are organized under a condominium property regime are used for agricultural purposes by amending existing law to clarify the definition of "farm dwelling" and to allow for better oversight and enforcement by the counties.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Judiciary 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 Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Health and Judiciary,

________________________________ KARL RHOADS, Chair

________________________________ ROSALYN H. BAKER, Chair