STAND.
COM. REP. NO. 1265
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2023
RE: S.B. No. 817
H.D. 1
Honorable Scott K. Saiki
Speaker, House of Representatives
Thirty-Second State Legislature
Regular Session of 2023
State of Hawaii
Sir:
Your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred S.B. No. 817 entitled:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STATE ENTERPRISE ZONES,"
beg leave to report as follows:
Your Committees
received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Business,
Economic Development, and Tourism; Agribusiness Development Corporation; Hawai‘i Gas; Hawai‘i Forest Industry
Association; Ulupono Initiative; Hawai‘i Farm Bureau; Hawaii Clean Power
Alliance; Hawaii Food Industry Association; Maui Chamber of Commerce; Land Use
Research Foundation of Hawaii; and one individual. Your Committees received testimony in
opposition to this measure from We are One, Inc.; Environmental Caucus of the
Democratic Party of Hawai‘i;
HULI PAC; Climate Protectors Hawai‘i;
and eleven individuals. Your Committees
received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Life of
the Land, and Tax Foundation of Hawaii.
Your Committees find that the Enterprise
Zone Program was initially established within the Department of Business,
Economic Development, and Tourism to stimulate various business activities and
employment in targeted areas in the State.
Your Committees further find that renewable energy and agriculture are
top priorities that are essential to the State's environmental and economic
sustainability. This measure expands the
definition of "eligible business activity" to further support the economic
outcomes of the State's most rural or distressed communities.
Your Committees have amended this measure
by:
(1) Clarifying that the development or production of renewable energy must demonstrate greenhouse gas emissions substantially lower than fossil fuels;
(2) Changing the effective date to June 30, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and
(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.
As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture & Food Systems that are attached to this report, your Committees are in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 817, as amended herein, and recommend that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 817, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Economic Development.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection and Agriculture & Food Systems,
|
____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair |
|
____________________________ NICOLE E. LOWEN, Chair |