STAND. COM. REP. NO. 691

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 831

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred S.B. No. 831 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to grant the Department of Agriculture the statutory power to own real, personal, or mixed property for immediate or future use.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture, Hawai‘i Farm Bureau, and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the success of ranchers and farmers in Hawaii is a key component to the State's goal of doubling local food production. Your Committee additionally finds that a flourishing agriculture sector in Hawaii requires adequate land availability and long-term leases at affordable and predictable lease rental rates. Thus, this measure authorizes the Department of Agriculture to acquire, acquire by grant, or purchase any real, personal, or mixed property to make available agricultural lands and long-term leases to farmers and ranchers, thereby enhancing the economic viability of Hawaii's agriculture industry.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Agriculture and Environment that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 831 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Agriculture and Environment,

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair