STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1602

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 307

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Ways and Means, to which was referred H.B. No. 307, H.D. 1, entitled:

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

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to encourage the continued productive use of state agricultural lands.

Specifically, this measure authorizes the Department of Agriculture to extend the agricultural park lease of any lessee who holds a lease with a remaining term of fifteen years or less; provided that the land covered by the lease is twenty-five acres or less and located in a county having a population of less than five hundred thousand.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Local Food Coalition, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Pacific Floral Exchange, Panaewa Foliage, Ahiki Acres, and eleven individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and one individual.

Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical nonsubstantive amendments for purposes of clarity 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 H.B. No. 307, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 307, H.D. 1, S.D. 1.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair