STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1247

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 690

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 Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 690, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Establish the Hawaii Agricultural Investment Program to support local agricultural producers;

(2) Require annual reports; and

(3) Appropriate funds for the program.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Ulupono Initiative; Ponoholo Ranch Limited; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action; Local Food Coalition; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Agriculture and Food Security Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i; Kuwale Ridge Farms; Food+ Policy Internship 2023; and thirteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from The Humane Society of the United States.

Your Committee finds that the State seeks to reduce food insecurity in Hawaii by investing heavily into local agriculture. Your Committee additionally notes that because more than eighty-five percent of all food consumed in the State is imported, the State is committed to doubling local food production by 2030. Therefore, sizeable investment and support is required to reach this goal. This measure establishes the Hawaii Agricultural Investment Program to serve as a dedicated funding source for local agriculture in Hawaii and allows the Department of Agriculture to invest funds directly to the farmers and ranchers to alleviate the financial strains on the agricultural sector in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding appropriations for two full-time (2.0 FTE) positions to the Department of Agriculture Hawaii Agricultural Investment Program to manage the procurement process to award grants, generate and administer contracts, and manage the accounting oversight resulting from the awarding of grants; and

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

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 690, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 690, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair