STAND. COM. REP. NO.  670

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   H.B. No. 284

      H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Economic Development, to which was referred H.B. No. 284, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO TARO,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to temporarily exempt from the general excise tax all of the gross proceeds or income received from the sale of any product resulting from the cultivation and production of unprocessed taro or of any value-added product of which the primary ingredient is taro or taro leaf.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Office of the Mayor of the County of Maui, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawai‘i Food+ Policy, and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Department of Taxation, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee finds that the temporary general excise tax exemption created by this measure will reduce the tax burden on taro farmers and help to create stronger economic incentives for new taro farmers, improve the livelihoods of existing taro farmers, and reduce the cost of poi for consumers in the Hawaii.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing its effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; 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 Economic Development that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 284, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 284, H.D. 2.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

DANIEL HOLT, Chair