STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3089

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2675

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred S.B. No. 2675 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a three-year cover crop reimbursement pilot program.

More specifically, this measure:

(1) Requires the Department of Agriculture to establish and implement a three-year cover crop reimbursement pilot program to reimburse farming operations in the State for the costs of cover cropping;

(2) Establishes requirements for the pilot program, including application requirements and requirements for the allocation and distribution of payments;

(3) Establishes within the Department of Agriculture a cover crop reimbursement pilot program manager position;

(4) Establishes requirements for, and the duties of, the cover crop reimbursement pilot program manager;

(5) Requires the Department of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature; and

(6) Appropriates moneys to the Department Agriculture to establish, implement, and administer the pilot program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from 350Hawaii; Climate Protectors Hawaii; Food+ Policy; Green Party Hawaii; Growing Together Edible Landscaping; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council; Hawaii Farm Bureau; Hawaii Farmers Union United; Hydroponics Alternatives, LLC; Kipahulu Ohana, Inc.; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Malama Kauai; Pele Lani Farm, LLC; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committee finds that cover cropping promotes healthier soils and is an important component of regenerative agriculture, which helps to sequester carbon emissions. Accordingly, your Committee believes that this measure will help to promote food security in the State while helping to address the ongoing climate change crisis.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying the allocation categories for disbursement of moneys through the cover crop reimbursement pilot program;

(2) Amending the definition of "cover crop" to exclude invasive or fast-growing grasses, or both, including Bermuda grass;

(3) Changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

(4) Making technical nonsubstantive changes for purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Ways and Means that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2675, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2675, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Ways and Means,

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair