STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1650

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 138

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.C.R. No. 138 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO EXAMINE ORGANIC PESTICIDES FOR AUTHORIZED USE IN THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Agriculture to examine organic pesticides for authorized use in the State.

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

Your Committee finds that organic pesticides are pesticides that typically come from natural sources, such as plants, minerals, or microorganisms, and have emerged as a popular alternative to conventional synthetic pesticides in recent years. Your Committee further finds that Hawaii has been impacted by various agricultural diseases and invasive species and the use of organic pesticides can bolster the sustainability of Hawaii's agricultural sector while minimizing the lasting environmental effects of pesticides. Therefore, this measure requests the Department of Agriculture to study organic pesticides currently licensed or authorized for use in the State and to identify organic pesticides not currently licensed or authorized for use and to test these pesticides for authorized use in the State.

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 concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 138 and recommends its adoption.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair