STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3063

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.B. No. 2133

       H.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Agriculture and Environment, to which was referred H.B. No. 2133, H.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO INVASIVE SPECIES,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

 

     (1)  Establish an Invasive Species Grant Pilot Program to provide grants through the Department of Agriculture to individuals, businesses, and organizations for the eradication of invasive species on property located in the State that is owned by the individual, business, or organization; and

 

     (2)  Appropriate an unspecified amount of funds to provide grants under the Invasive Species Grant Pilot Program.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Department of Land and Natural Resources; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association; Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi; Living Life Source Foundation; Waiehu Land, L.L.C.; and two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that there are property owners in the State who would like to eradicate invasive species, such as coqui frogs, in and on their property, but are unable to adequately do so because of financial factors.  This measure provides financial assistance to make it affordable for individuals, businesses, and organizations to eradicate the invasive species like coqui frogs on their property, thus further mitigating the spread of invasive species 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2133, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

 

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

 

 

 

________________________________

MIKE GABBARD, Chair