STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1025

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 1547

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 S.B. No. 1547 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to establish a food and product innovation network within the Agribusiness Development Corporation and to appropriate moneys for food and product innovation facilities on the islands of Molokai and Oahu.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Agribusiness Development Corporation, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Food Industry Association, Ulupono Initiative, and two individuals.

Your Committee finds that the creation of a food and product innovation network will allow the agencies and businesses involved in creating value-added products to share expertise, information, and ideas, and will help support entrepreneurs and spur statewide economic development.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, to facilitate further discussion on the measure.

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 S.B. No. 1547, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 1547, S.D. 1.

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

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DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair