STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2592

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2946

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 2946 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO IRRIGATION,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture for water source infrastructure and the maintenance and improvements to the Peekauai Ditch Irrigation System located on Kauai.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Agriculture Resource Management Division of the Department of Agriculture; Office of Economic Development of the County of Kauai; Local Food Coalition; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Crop Improvement Association; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; and five individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance.

Your Committees find that reliable irrigation systems are the lifelines of Hawaii's agricultural industry. To ensure that Hawaii's agricultural crops receive a steady and dependable supply of water, sufficient funding is needed to maintain and improve the State's irrigation systems. This measure appropriates funds for water source infrastructure maintenance and improvements to the Peekauai Ditch Irrigation System.

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. 2946 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair