STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1294-22

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2022

RE: S.B. No. 3004

S.D. 1

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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 3004, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO COMPOSTING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to permanently establish and appropriate funds for a Compost Reimbursement Program and Compost Reimbursement Program Manager position within the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farmers Union United, Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action, Kauai Women's Caucus, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Our Revolution Hawaii, 350Hawaii.org, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Down to Earth Organic and Natural, Food+ Policy Internship 2022, and numerous individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Budget and Finance and one individual.

Your Committee finds that composting diverts discarded food and other useful wastes away from landfills and adds valuable nutrients to the soil. This measure encourages and supports local composting efforts that further strengthen the State's soil structure and nutrient-holding capacity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Allowing landscaping operations to qualify under the Compost Reimbursement Program;

(2) Changing references from "farmers and ranchers" to "farming operations"; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

Your Committee notes that to further expand the Compost Reimbursement Program to support composting efforts by landscapers, an appropriate definition for "landscaping operations" is necessary and believes this issue merits further discussion by your Committee on Finance.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3004, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3004, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair