STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1003-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2134

H.D. 2

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred H.B. No. 2134, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to appropriate funds to establish Grant Specialist positions within the Department of Agriculture to assist farmers and ranchers in applying for, obtaining, and fulfilling the requirements of grants offered by federal, state, county, or private entities.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Maui County Farm Bureau; Ulupono Initiative; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association; Land Use Research Foundation of Hawaii; Hawaiʻi Food+ Policy; Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Inc.; Local Food Coalition; Aina Hookupu o Kilauea; and six individuals. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee has amended this measure by changing the number of full-time equivalent Grant Specialist positions to an unspecified number.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Finance that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2134, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Third Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2134, H.D. 2.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Finance,

____________________________

KYLE T. YAMASHITA, Chair