STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1263

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2023

 

RE:   S.B. No. 419

      S.D. 1

      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 Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred S.B. No. 419, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO CARBON SEQUESTRATION,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds for the Hawaii Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Pilot Program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Commission, Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, Hawai‘i Reef and Ocean Coalition, Climate Protectors Hawai‘i, Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i Farmers Union United, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Citizens' Climate Lobby, and six individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

 

     Your Committee finds that in order to move the State closer to its carbon-negative target as soon as possible, reducing carbon emissions and increasing and expanding natural carbon sequestration methods are critical.  This measure supports the State's efforts to mitigate climate change by sequestering greenhouse gas emissions through regenerative agriculture and forest preservation.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

 

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

 

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $1,000,000.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 419, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 419, S.D. 1, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

 

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,

 

 

 

 

____________________________

NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair