STAND. COM. REP. NO. 234-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1714

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture, to which was referred H.B. No. 1714 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TWO-LINED SPITTLEBUGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to continue its efforts to mitigate and control the two-lined spittlebug and for recovery of the rangelands and pastures damaged by this invasive pest.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Local Food Coalition; Coordinating Group on Alien Pest Species; Hawaii Meats on Oahu; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Parker Ranch, Inc.; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; and nine individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Budget and Finance, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the two-lined spittlebug, or Prosapia bicincta, is an invasive pest that was first detected in Kailua-Kona in 2016. By 2021, the two-lined spittlebug had impacted thousands of acres of ranchland on the west side of the island of Hawaii. This invasive pest has caused the loss of high-quality pasture grasses, including the Kikuyu and Pangola grasses, and has greatly reduced the quality of forage pastures on the island of Hawaii. Your Committee finds that additional resources are urgently needed to combat the detrimental effects of the two-lined spittlebug on the State's livestock industry, economy, and environment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Expanding the purpose of the appropriation to include research to inform best practices and monitor the status of the two-lined spittlebug;

(2) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to encourage further discussion; and

(3) 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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1714, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1714, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair