CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP. NO. 90-24

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2024

RE: S.B. No. 2413

S.D. 2

H.D. 1

C.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sirs:

Your Committee on Conference on the disagreeing vote of the Senate to the amendments proposed by the House of Representatives in S.B. No. 2413, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AGRICULTURE,"

having met, and after full and free discussion, has agreed to recommend and does recommend to the respective Houses the final passage of this bill in an amended form.

The purpose of this measure is to require the Board of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025 on:

(1) The percentages of agricultural lands being leased by the State that are suitable for farming and actively being used for farming purposes; and

(2) Certain dollar amounts relating to lease transfers between lessees.

Your Committee on Conference finds that accurate data on public agricultural lands, especially those that are leased, would help optimize public and private investments in agriculture to meet the State's local food production and agricultural sustainability goals. This measure ensures that public land is used prudently for the benefit of its residents by identifying public, productive agricultural lands and protecting their use under the state and county land use regulatory systems.

Your Committee on Conference has amended this measure by making it effective upon its approval.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the managers of your Committee on Conference that is attached to this report, your Committee on Conference is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2413, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Final Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2413, S.D. 2, H.D. 1, C.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the managers:

ON THE PART OF THE HOUSE

ON THE PART OF THE SENATE

____________________________ CEDRIC ASUEGA GATES Co-Chair	____________________________ MIKE GABBARD Chair
____________________________ KIRSTIN KAHALOA Co-Chair	____________________________ LYNN DECOITE Co-Chair