STAND. COM. REP. NO. 44

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.B. No. 313

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 313 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to:

(1) Appropriate funds to the University of Hawaii to establish a foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program to identify and purchase foreign agricultural technology and retrofit engines to comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards for small engines; and

(2) Require the University of Hawaii to report to the Legislature its findings and recommendations regarding the pilot program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Ulupono Initiative; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Maui County Farm Bureau; and three individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture and University of Hawai‘i System.

Your Committee finds that as the demand for unskilled labor increases, farmers and ranchers are searching for ways to use technology to better operate their farms and ranches. Your Committee further finds that agricultural operations in the State may benefit from access to and use of foreign agricultural technology, like small equipment tractors from Japan. However, this type of equipment cannot be imported because it does not comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's emission standards for small engines. Establishment of a foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program will enable greater efficiencies in farming practices, especially for small-scale farming in the State, and further the viability of agriculture in Hawaii.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

Should your Committee on Higher Education & Technology deliberate on this measure, your Committee respectfully requests that it consider mentioning in the measure other countries, including India, from which to acquire agricultural technology for the foreign agriculture small equipment pilot program.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 313, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 313, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair