STAND. COM. REP. NO. 766

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 660

S.D. 2

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. 660, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to require and appropriate moneys for the Department of Agriculture to establish a healthy soils program.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the State of Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission; Pacific Agricultural Land Management Systems; Kauai Climate Change Coalition; Kipahulu Ohana, Inc.; Kanalani Ohana Farm; Capture the Carbon; Aina Hookupu o Kilauea; Agriculture and Food Security Committee of the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party; Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action; Good Food Movement; Chamber of Sustainable Commerce; Adaptations, Inc.; Kona Coffee Farmers Association; The Seeger Institute; Hawaii Forest Industry Association; Hawaii Farmers Union United; Green Islands Acres, LLC; Food + Policy Internship; Kohana Family Farms; Hawaii Environmental Change Agents Carbon Sequestration Task Force; Ka Ohana O Na Pua; Ai Pohaku - The Stone Eaters; Kuwale Ridge Farms; and numerous individuals.

Your Committee received written comments in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, and Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of the Attorney General, Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Farmers Union United, and 350 Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that the healthy soils program established by this measure will provide awards, financial incentives, and technical assistance to help small farmers, ranchers, and landowners improve soil health and build carbon stocks.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Changing the amount of the appropriation from $500,000 to an unspecified sum to facilitate further discussion on the measure; and

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

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. 660, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 660, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair