STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3518

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 52

S.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 S.C.R. No. 52 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE PERCENTAGES OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS BEING LEASED BY THE STATE THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR FARMING AND ACTIVELY BEING USED FOR FARMING PURPOSES AND CERTAIN DOLLAR AMOUNTS RELATING TO LEASE TRANSFERS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Board of Agriculture to:

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

(2) Determine certain dollar amounts for each agricultural lease transferred from one lessee to another lessee; and

(3) Submit a report to the Legislature before the Regular Session of 2025.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau and two individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Department of Agriculture.

Your Committee finds that accurate data on public agricultural lands, especially those that are leased, is vital to optimize public and private investments in agriculture to meet the State's local food production and agricultural sustainability goals. This measure will ensure that public, productive agricultural lands remain in agricultural use.

Your Committee has amended this measure by amending the date for the Board of Agriculture to submit a report to the Legislature from before the Regular Session of 2025 to before the Regular Session of 2027.

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. 52, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 52, S.D. 1.

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

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MIKE GABBARD, Chair