STAND. COM. REP. NO. 84

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 419

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 419 entitled:

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

beg leave to report as follows:

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

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawai‘i Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Kauai Climate Action Coalition; The Nature Conservancy; Hawaii Environmental Change Agents Carbon Sequestration Task Force; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Hawai‘i Farmers Union United; and three individuals.

Your Committees recognize that the State is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by reducing carbon emissions and increasing and expanding natural carbon sequestration methods wherever possible. Your Committees find that Act 185, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, established the Hawaii Carbon Smart Land Management Assistance Pilot Program within the Department of Land and Natural Resources, which allows small farmers, ranchers, foresters, and land owners and lessees to receive compensation for taking measures to help Hawaii reach its climate readiness goals. This measure appropriates funds to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for this pilot program.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 419 and recommend that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Agriculture and Environment and Water and Land,

________________________________ LORRAINE R. INOUYE, Chair

________________________________ MIKE GABBARD, Chair