CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 61

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: S.B. No. 655

S.D. 1

H.D. 2

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 655, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO HEMP,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to authorize the Department of Agriculture to align state hemp production administrative rules with federal exemptions for fiber, fuel, and seed grain hemp crops.

Your Committee on Conference finds that the hemp industry in Hawaii is overburdened by federal and state regulations that stifle growth and production, the extent to which consumers and retailers often resort to purchasing more readily available and affordable hemp overseas. Your Committee on Conference further recognizes that hemp is a viable and resourceful crop with a myriad of valuable uses and therefore, seeks to reduce the regulatory burdens that undermine the success of Hawaii's hemp industry. Therefore, this measure authorizes the Department of Agriculture to align state hemp production administrative rules with federal rules to reduce the regulation that burdens the industry in Hawaii.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by:

(1) Specifying that hemp shall not be grown within three hundred feet of a pre-existing playground, child care facility, or school;

(2) Specifying that hemp shall not be grown within one hundred feet of a pre-existing house, dwelling unit, residential apartment, or other residential structure not owned by the grower; and

(3) Making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 655, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 655, S.D. 1, H.D. 2, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ DAVID A. TARNAS Co-Chair	____________________________ GLENN WAKAI Co-Chair
	____________________________ KARL RHOADS Co-Chair