STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1563

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 652

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 Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 652, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to the Department of Agriculture to:

(1) Mitigate and control infestations of the two-lined spittlebug and undertake recovery efforts for lands damaged by the two-lined spittlebug; and

(2) Establish a five-year pilot program to mitigate and control the significant increase in the population of feral chickens, including roosters, and pigs throughout the State.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Hawaii Sustainable Beef Enterprises, Ponoholo Ranch Limited, Ulupono Initiative, Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, and fourteen individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General; Larry Jefts Farms, LLC.; and McCandless Ranch.

Your Committee finds that the two-lined spittlebug is severely damaging to kikuyu grass pastures, which is the dominant grazing forage for the State's cattle industry. Your Committee further finds that feral chickens and pigs also pose significant threats to agricultural crops. The effective management of these invasive species is necessary for local food production in the State.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

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

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

Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it choose to deliberate on this measure, to consider the issue of whether feral chickens and pigs should be included in this measure.

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 S.B. No. 652, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 652, 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 Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair