STAND. COM. REP. NO. 100-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: H.B. No. 1993

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. 1993 entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to modify requirements and restrictions related to the Department of Agriculture's dispositions of non-agricultural park lands to maximize the benefit to the State of these lands and to help the State achieve its economic and food production goals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that access to suitable land in the State is a significant barrier to entry for new farmers and ranchers, and the Department of Agriculture's non-agricultural park lands are one source of these lands. Your Committee further finds that this measure seeks to ensure continued productivity of these lands including in situations such as disability or loss of a spouse.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that submittal of certain documentation to the Department of Agriculture is required in situations when a lessee seeks modification of a lease or original plan of development and utilization due to a mental or physical disability or the loss of a spouse; 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 that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1993, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1993, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Water & Land.

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

____________________________

MARK J. HASHEM, Chair