STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1597

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 313

H.D. 1

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 H.B. No. 313, H.D. 1, 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 establish and appropriate moneys for a Foreign Agriculture Small Equipment Pilot Program at a University of Hawaii community college, to be selected by the University of Hawaii, and administered by the Department of Agriculture, in collaboration with the University of Hawaii.

Your Committee received written comments in support of this measure from the Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii, Waimanalo Agricultural Association, Island Foodscaping, Ulupono Initiative, Maui County Farm Bureau, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Hawaii Crop Improvement Association, and five individuals.

Your Committee received written comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that many countries have agricultural equipment that would benefit the State's farmers and ranchers but that is not yet compliant with Environmental Protection Agency emission standards. The pilot program established by this measure will help support agricultural production and food security in the State by assisting the State's ranchers and farmers in identifying, purchasing, importing, and modifying for environmental compliance, foreign agriculture small equipment.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Clarifying that facilitating the importation of foreign agriculture small equipment is a matter of statewide concern; and

(2) Making technical nonsubstantive changes 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 H.B. No. 313, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 313, H.D. 1, S.D. 2.

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

________________________________

DONOVAN M. DELA CRUZ, Chair