STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1832

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.C.R. No. 176

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 H.C.R. No. 176 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO DESIGNATE KUNIA, LEILEHUA PLATEAU, AND POAMOHO AS THE CENTRAL OAHU AGRICULTURAL CORRIDOR AND TO ESTABLISH A LIST PRIORITIZING POTENTIAL AGRICULTURAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE THE MOST VALUE TO THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Agriculture to:

(1) Designate Kunia, Leilehua Plateau, and Poamoho as the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor; and

(2) Establish a list prioritizing potential agricultural infrastructure improvement projects that would provide the most value to the State when considering certain factors.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau and Hawaii Crop Improvement Association. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that creating the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor and prioritizing infrastructure improvement projects would have positive short-term and long-term impacts and could be valuable steps toward the State's goal to double local food production by 2030.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Urging the Department of Agriculture to consult with the Agribusiness Development Corporation in designating the Central Oahu Agricultural Corridor and establishing the prioritization list;

(2) Adding the Executive Director of the Agribusiness Development Corporation as a recipient of a certified copy of this measure;

(3) Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

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

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 176, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Finance in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 176, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems,

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair