STAND. COM. REP. NO. 522-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: H.B. No. 2705

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Agriculture & Food Systems, to which was referred H.B. No. 2705 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURAL LEASES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to modify requirements and restrictions related to the Department of Agriculture's dispositions of non-agricultural park lands to maximize the benefit to the State of agricultural lands and to help the State achieve its economic and food production goals.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from two individuals. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture; Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau; and one individual.

Your Committee finds that state agricultural lands are a key resource that can be used to meet the State's goals for economic diversification and food self-sufficiency. Therefore, it is essential for the State to gain a better understanding of how to maximize the benefits of these lands for the State, rather than for individual gain, to ensure food self-sufficiency and self-sustainability goals.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Deleting the preamble and proposed modifications to the disposition of non-agricultural park lands;

(2) Requiring the Department of Agriculture to:

(A) Conduct a study on the requirements and restrictions related to the Department of Agriculture's dispositions of non-agricultural park lands; and

(B) Submit a report to the Legislature prior to the Regular Session of 2025; and

(3) Inserting an effective date of July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion.

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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2705, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2705, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

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

____________________________

CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES, Chair